News from Thailand – April 13, 2013

Thai politics is a game played by a handful of elite people, supported by a larger handful of mafia dons and greedy businessmen. The common people never partook in it.

This writes Wasant Techawongtham, former editor of Bangkok Post, in Friday's paper.

According to Wasant, there is not much difference between the Democrats, Pheu Thai and other parties. The red shirt leaders may claim that the ruling Pheu Thai party is the party of the common people, while the Democrats are the party of the elite. But that claim is both cynical and misleading. Those who run Pheu Thai are not that different from those in the Democrats or any other party.

Wasant pleads for a green party à la the Greens in Germany. The purpose of forming such a party is not to win a political victory, but to break a political culture that is draining the country and cultivate a new culture based on justice, ethics and integrity.

We need alternative parties, he writes, that truly represent the voices and aspirations of the people and that enable the people to play a meaningful role in the country's development. The old political culture must be broken down and a new people-centered culture must be cultivated. As the French statesman Charles de Gaulle once said: Politics is too serious a matter to be left to politicians alone.

– Two top men of rebel group Pulo, who are serving a life sentence in the maximum security institution (EBI) in Songkhla, have been transferred to a prison in Yala. Both the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) and their families had requested this. It was inconvenient and expensive for the family to travel to Songkhla every time to visit them.

The SBPAC had previously requested the transfer of these two plus two others, but the Corrections Department had rejected that request because Yala Provincial Prison was not suitable for long-term prisoners. This is now possible after adjustment.

A prison source says the transfer is part of the government's goodwill-building policy now that peace talks have begun. Two other transfers to Pattani Provincial Prison are pending.

The two men now transferred, aged 74 and 61, are respectively a former president of the Pattani United Liberation Organization (PULO) and a former head of the armed branch of PULO. They were convicted of acts of violence in 2011. The two, whose transfer is pending, are a former Pulo leader and a Pulo member, sentenced to life and 50 years respectively.

– A complaints center has been opened at the Southern Border Provinces Police Operations Center in Yala. Vice Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, who was visiting the South for two days, announced this yesterday. People who have been arrested and feel that they have been treated unfairly can file a complaint with this centre. Chalerm said he would discuss with the security services how to handle those complaints.

– On the basis of DNA testing, the police have been able to identify one of the suspects in the bomb attack on the deputy governor of Yala. DNA found at the crime scene was found to match Abdulloh Tapoh-oh's DNA. A handwritten message was also found there with the text 'I've been waiting so long for you', the handwriting of which matched that of the suspect. The DNA test also revealed that he was involved in the 2009 murder and beheading of two soldiers in Bannang Sata. An arrest warrant has been issued against him.

Deputy Governor Iassara Thongthawat and an assistant governor were killed on April 5 when a roadside bomb exploded as they passed in their car. The driver was seriously injured. The police said earlier that they take into account that the travel route to the insurgents has been leaked.

– Bangkok is Thailand's most violent city with the highest murder rate, says the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation. She bases this on reports in five major Thai newspapers in 2012. In 59 percent of violent crimes, a man killed his wife. Suicides came in second (24 percent), the most in Chon Buri province, and third, physical violence accounted for 9 percent. Alcohol often played a role in marital strife. According to the foundation, the police should respond more alertly to victims' cries for help, because they receive very little help from the police.

– The National Democratic Movement of All Thai People Organization has asked the UN in a letter to order the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to stop the Preah Vihear case. The letter refers to the border negotiations between Siam and France in 1904. According to the letter writers, the agreement concluded at the time is only binding between Thailand and France and not between Thailand and Cambodia.

Cambodia approached the ICJ in 2011 with a request to reinterpret the Court's 1962 judgment awarding the temple to Cambodia and to rule on the 4,6 square kilometer area of ​​the temple, disputed by both countries.

From 15 to 19 April, both countries will give an oral explanation in The Hague. Thailand has compiled a 1.300-page document to substantiate its position; Cambodia is slightly more modest with 300 pages. The verdict is expected in October.

[In my opinion, the foundation should have referred to the dissenting opinion of the Australian court judge in 1962. His extensive motivation strikes me as very convincing.]

– The burnt remains of a boy aged 10 to 15 were found yesterday at a rice field in Ongkharak (Nakhon Nayok). The body was probably set on fire after the boy was killed, in order to cover up traces.

– Although the rainy season starts early this year, the Water Management and Flood Prevention Commission is concerned about a lack of water for rice cultivation. The water level in the major reservoirs in the Northeast is currently very low and less rain is expected next month. The committee advises the government to artificially generate rain in emergencies.

Political news

– Fifteen days or sixty days: that's the question. Speaker of Parliament Somsak Kiatsuranont is going to make amends for a mistake, which he said was not a mistake or against the law. He has scheduled a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate for Thursday. Then a vote will be taken on how much time three committees will have to study the proposals for amendments to four constitutional articles in more detail.

Previously, the three whips agreed on 15 days, but the oppositionwhip later demanded 60 days. Chairman Somsak was unable to put that demand to the vote last week during the parliamentary debate on the amendments, because the quorum was missing, and decided for 15 days. But Somsak is apparently not the angriest, because he has decided to put that demand to the vote after all.

Parliament approved the amendments in the first term last week. The three committees that have been formed take a closer look at the details and may come up with suggestions. This is followed by two further terms with votes. The opposition is opposed to the proposals. For example, the process of the population to the Constitutional Court is made more difficult. The Senate would also no longer be appointed for half, but completely elected.

Opposition leader Abhisit vehemently opposes amendment of Article 190. This requires parliament's consent in international agreements. Abhisit suspects that the silencing of parliament has everything to do with 'a certain master' who has business interests in an overlapping maritime area of ​​Thailand and Cambodia. 'It's true I am blocking. I am blocking the cheats from exploiting national interests.'

Financial economic news

– Former Prime Minister Thaksin is in China for negotiations with bankers and major investors. On his Facebook page, he sets Chinese businessmen as an example to Thai companies. He writes that Chinese businessmen are going to use their excess liquidity to buy properties and businesses in low-risk countries, particularly in the US and Europe. Thai businessmen should do the same now that the baht is so strong.

Thaksin is calling on the Bank of Thailand to take measures to ensure that the foreign capital that is currently flowing into the country (and pushing up the baht/dollar exchange rate) stays in the country as long as possible. In this way, he says, speculation on interest rates is prevented.

Thaksin acknowledges that Thailand has a lot of foreign reserves, but so do other Asian countries, in part because Japan, the US and Europe have pumped money into it. 'Holding a large amount of foreign currencies will result in higher interest in baht terms. This means we have to borrow at high interest to deposit at almost zero interest.' [Hopefully someone understands what Thaksin means by that; not me.]

– During the high season and on long weekends, Thailand lacks buses suitable for the transport of foreign tourists. It is estimated that the country has 5.000 coaches, of which 2.000 are suitable in terms of quality. The shortage has been felt since the fourth quarter of 2012, as the number of tourists has risen sharply, especially from Russia and China.

In the first quarter of this year, the number of Chinese tourists increased by 93,47 percent to 1,2 million; the number of Russian tourists rose by 26 percent to more than 584.000.

Most coach companies require buses of category A and above, but they cost 5 million baht each. Upgrading imported buses is not easy because financial institutions do not easily provide loans. They see the industry as risky because it depends on the tourist season and fuel costs are high, said Jiradej Huayhongthong, vice president of the Tourism Transportation Association (TTA).

Many operators without collateral turn to the Thai Credit Guarantee Corp, but they must pay a 1,5 percent guarantee fee to the financial institution. The loan has to pay 4 to 5 percent interest, more than other sectors in the tourism industry. The TTA has asked the government to lower the rate and interest or to scrap the rate.

Raising tour rates does not help because travel agencies sell their packages in advance. Changes have to wait until the next high season in November. They are expected to rise by 7 to 10 percent.

The TTA expects 500 coaches to be added to the fleet this year and hopes the shortfall will ease with government assistance. The buses are imported from China (complete) and from Europe (chassis only), after which they are assembled in Thailand. This process can take nine months. The price difference is not significant.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post