News from Thailand – July 14, 2014
The well-known Mor Chit bus terminal, from where buses depart to the North and Northeast, will move to a new location on Phahon Yothin Road. But not within a year, as requested by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), owner of the land. Transport Co thinks that the new terminal will not be operational for at least three years.
Mor Chit has to move because the SRT wants to develop the area and because the current location of 80 rai has become too cramped. The new location measures 100 rai. This week, Transport Co, owned by the government, is considering the relocation plans. This involves a study by King Mongkut University with recommendations for new locations and investment methods.
The eastern bus station Ekamai is also moving and that will not surprise anyone who knows the situation, because the terminal is located on the busy Sukhumvit Road. A location on Bang Na-Trat Road is being considered. The cost of Mor Chit's move is estimated at 1,5 billion baht; it is not yet known how much Ekamai's move will cost.
Transport Co will also replace its double-decker buses with XNUMX regular buses this year. After a number of tragic accidents, it is now clear that the unstable double-decker buses are too dangerous [especially in mountainous terrain].
– The NCPO wants to close all nine refugee camps in Thailand within a year. Working groups with representatives from the army, the Mae Fah Luang foundation and the UNHCR have now divided the 130.000 refugees from Myanmar into three groups: those who want to return (mainly the elderly), those who want to go to a third country (because they are concerned about their safety) and those who want to stay (refugees born here).
For the first year, UNHCR has offered land and financial aid to refugees returning voluntarily to Myanmar. The US and some European countries are said to be willing to take in refugees, but the number has not yet been confirmed. In the camps in Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi, the working groups encountered XNUMX people who are not refugees.
A source in the Thai army says the repatriation will comply with international humanitarian rules and that the preferences of the refugees will be taken into account. UNHCR supervision must guarantee this.
– Governments, meeting in Switzerland for a meeting of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species, have urged Thailand to enact legislation to protect elephants. Thailand has until March to end its domestic trade in illegal ivory. If the country defaults, trade sanctions can be expected.
Meanwhile, police are scrambling to find the poachers who killed 50-year-old male elephant Khlao and sawed off his tusks. The animal was found on Friday near the Lop Buri River opposite the Ayutthaya Royal Elephant Kraal. It was poisoned. Police visit antique shops that sell ivory and shops that sell herbicides for clues.
– Thailand is aiming for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. Rivals are Qatar, Bangladesh, India and Indonesia. The Thai diplomatic mission in New York has heard reports that Thailand's chances are being hampered by the coup. Attempts are now being made to gain the support of Latin American and African countries. Those countries can help Thailand get a seat.
The Thai Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Mission in New York, Norachit Singhaseni, has already explained the political situation to UN members. “We chose those countries that are interested and concerned,” he says.
Norachit has been asked by Sihasak Phuangketkeow, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is responsible for ministerial duties, to focus on the ambassadors from Latin America and Africa. He will explain why the coup was necessary and what the plans are for the restoration of democracy.
Norachit has the impression that other countries' concerns are abating, partly because a coup is not a new phenomenon in Thailand. But the countries are afraid that the coup violates human rights, Norachit said.
– There are no plans to provide patients insured through it universal healthcare coverage scheme (commonly referred to as the 30-baht health program) for part of the expenses. Narong Sahametapat, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health, says the ministry is not in favor of this.
He is responding to a proposal from the National Economics and Social Development Board that patients pay for some medical procedures to help alleviate the rising cost of the program. But Narong says, "We don't intend to cause problems for people by making them pay."
The program currently costs 2.755 baht per person per year, compared to 1.202 baht in 2001 when it was introduced by the then Thaksin government. It applies to 48 million Thais. According to a survey last year by the Thai Health Security Office, 78 percent of people are satisfied with the level of service.
– In the posting Police start manhunt for car thieves, we wrote in News from Thailand that we will come back to it special report of Bangkok Post about car thefts. Today's newspaper has devoted two full pages to it.
There are three articles on page 3. I will briefly indicate them. They do not contain news, but do contain tips to prevent theft, for example. Furthermore, a list of top spots, where every day 10 to 20 cars are stolen and residents are given the floor who are concerned about their Sacred Cow.
It's new to me three lock system, which blocks the steering wheel, gear lever and the accelerator and brake pedals. A separate key is required for each.
A resident of Muang Thong Thani blames the thefts on the small number of guards and the poor quality of the surveillance camera images.
Furthermore, a story about a man and his brother, who tracked down their stolen sports car via social media. The sports car with the brother at the wheel had been stopped by two men in a pickup truck posing as police officers. They managed to get away with the car. Thanks to tips on Facebook and Instagram, the police found the car with a pawnbroker after six days.
A third story is about the theft of a bicycle, but I will let that pass. We know all about that in the Netherlands.
www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post
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