News from Thailand – August 15, 2013

A success for the residents of three villages in Mae Sot (Tak). The administrative court has ordered the National Environmental Board (NEB) to give the villages, which have been contaminated with cadmium since 2003, the status of environmental protection zone and the villagers are of course very happy with that.

The designation means that the authorities must take remedial measures and prohibit all activities that are harmful to the environment. 31 villagers plus the Stop Global Warming Association went to court in 2009.

The ruling of the administrative court is a boost to the civil law case that the residents have brought against a mining company that is held responsible for the cadmium pollution. They demand compensation of 3 billion baht, because the pollution has prevented them from growing rice. About eight hundred villagers have been duped as a result.

The authorities have asked them to switch to sugar cane. That crop can absorb the cadmium, but it can only be used to produce methanol, not for human consumption.

– He has only been director of Thai Airways International (THAI) for ten months and his future is already hanging by a thread. Thailand's flag carrier plunged into the red in the second quarter despite an increase in passenger numbers.

Vice chairman Areepong Bhoocha-oom says that the board of directors is disappointed with the performance of Sorajak Kasemsuvan. THAI suffered a net loss of 8,4 billion baht in the second quarter against a net profit of 8,2 billion baht in the first quarter. Turnover was under severe pressure from competition from carriers from the Gulf States and cheap flights in Asia. Areepong expects the airline to perform better in the second half of the year due to the introduction of new routes, replacement of aircraft and the establishment of a panel to monitor expenditure and costs.

Chairman of the board Ampon Kittiampon denies that he is trying to saw the legs out from under Sorajak's chair and Minister Chadchat Sittipunt (Transport) denies that political pressure is being exerted to get rid of him. “Nobody gave me any orders. The decision will be made by THAI's Executive Board.' State Secretary Prin Suvanadat (Transport) says that the council must come up with good arguments when a decision is made to dismiss.

An anonymous source at the ministry says that the Executive Board is unhappy with Sorajak's performance because he lacks leadership skills. Many board members have complained that he is unable to unfold clear plans to move the company forward.

Sorajak is unaware of any harm. He expects the company to have made a profit of 4 billion baht by the end of the year, 2 billion less than the target. He attributes the loss in the first half of the year to the purchase of new aircraft, depreciation on old aircraft, exchange rate fluctuations and moderate freight transport.

– A fact-finding committee of the Ministry of Energy has concluded that PTTGC acted correctly in the oil spill off the coast of Rayong last month. Bad weather and customs procedures were the cause of the serious consequences. The strong winds and currents prevented the deployed barrier from working properly, resulting in oil reaching Ao Phrao beach on Koh Samet.

The commission determined that 15 minutes after the spill, the company contacted an agency in Singapore to send a sprinkler plane. Customs took two hours to allow the plane to enter Thailand's airspace and then it took another hour for the plane to reach Rayong.

"If the plane had arrived earlier, less than half of the oil would have washed onto the beach," said Vichien Keeratinjakal, a member of the National Environment Board. To prevent a recurrence, the committee has proposed that the oil and gas industry jointly purchase spraying equipment.

The cause of the leak was a broken hose. If it turns out that it was made of faulty material, PTTCG can claim compensation from the manufacturer. Employees cannot be blamed; they checked the hose before pumping the crude oil to the onshore refinery. Immediately after the break, the valves were closed, so that only the oil that was between a buoy and the ship leaked, which was 54.341 liters.

Solvents used were 30.612 liters of Slickgone NS and 6.930 liters of Super-dispersant 25, two chemicals approved by the Pollution Control Department.

– The third-class train ticket may not be increased in price by the Ministry of Transport. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) had wanted to make it 10 percent more expensive. But the ministry thinks that the SRT should first improve the service. A fare increase in third class should be carefully considered, says Minister Chadchat Sittipunt (Transport), because it affects the poorest passengers. According to Chadchat, the SRT has other options to increase revenue, such as attracting more passengers.

Last week, Chadchat made a train trip to Nakhon Pathom with Prime Minister Yingluck. A survey among the passengers showed that most complain about the poor sanitary facilities in the toilets and the 'improper behaviour' of conductors.

– According to the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT), the criteria for the tender for 3.183 buses for the public transport company of Bangkok (BMTA) are not watertight, which means that there is a risk of unfair bidding. The ACT claims that the BMTA has ignored an agreement with it on supervision by the ACT in the tendering process.

According to Thada Tearprasert of the ACT's strategic planning committee, the qualifications for bidders are too high, leaving only a limited number of companies eligible. “We want the bid to be more competitive,” he says. Consultations between the BMTA and the ACT are taking place today.

The ACT urges the Government to swiftly review the Prime Minister's Office procurement regime and to specify the rights of independent organizations in government procurement procedures. The ACT hopes that this will happen before the tendering of the water works (for which 350 billion baht has been borrowed) and infrastructure works (for which the government will borrow 2 trillion baht) starts.

– Villagers of tambon Sa-iab have apologized to Google for hindering a company car that took photos for Street View on Tuesday. They thought this was done in preparation for the construction of the Kaeng Sua Ten dam, which they strongly opposed. The villagers are quite stressed since Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi recently said that the dam is going to be built. The plans for the dam date back 29 years.

– Two soldiers drowned yesterday during the annual emergency response exercise. They fell into the water in the Huai Samnak Mai Teng reservoir when their jet skis overturned. Rescue workers have only found their life jacket. Presumably the jet skis hit a rock or piece of wood.

– Eleven officials and employees will be prosecuted for recklessness, which resulted in the death of four people. They died in April when a suspension bridge in Ayutthaya collapsed. Twelve people were seriously injured.

– The Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of yellow shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul and television presenter Sarocha Porn-udomsak. The court previously found them guilty of libel. Why the Supreme Court thought otherwise, the message does not say. The case was brought by former Prime Minister Thaksin, who was disturbed by statements made by both during a TV programme.

– Members of the Foundation for Consumers dressed in white overalls protested yesterday at Government House against the proposed price increase of LPG. That measure will harm poor people, they say. If the government does not respond to their call, they will protest on August 23 at the headquarters of PTT, the producer of LPG.

Butane gas now costs 18,13 baht per kilo. The price is increased by 0,5 baht every month until it is 24,82 baht per kilo. Low incomes and street vendors can use a subsidy program.

– Democratic party spokesperson Malika Boonmeetrakul posted a manipulated photo of Prime Minister Yingluck on Facebook and Twitter that could earn her a conviction under the Computer Crime Act. A lawyer from the red shirt movement has filed a complaint about this and the DSI is investigating.

In the original photo, Yingluck stands next to a Kui Buri National Park sign in Prachuap Khiri Khan; in the manipulated, the board has been changed and there is a text on it that could be libelous.

– We have gradually become used to it from Prime Minister Yingluck: always positive, always conciliatory, usually vague. Yesterday she paid a visit to the army - after all, she is also Minister of Defense - and the compliments were pouring in again.

“I am satisfied with the role the army has played over the past two years. The staff does their best to properly fulfill all tasks and duties.' Yingluck said he admired the army for the help it provided when the country was in crisis, referring to the late 2 floods. to offer immediate help.'

– News from Thailand reported yesterday that the police intends to follow messages on Line. Today, the chief of the national police says that the police will never violate the rights of Line users. Only people who are suspected of a crime or who act in a way that endangers national security will be followed.

“Investigations must be strictly in accordance with the law,” says Adul Saengsingkaew. He adds that a thorough study has yet to be made into whether there is any law permitting such investigations. “The people can rest easy. She can continue to use Line without worrying about their privacy being violated. Even police officers use Line to communicate with each other.'

The Technology Crime Suppression Division is currently seeking cooperation from Line Corporation. According to TCSD head Pisit Pao-in, Line is widely used by gun, drug and sex traffickers.

Political news

– MEPs never have to be late in the chamber again, because the secretariat has bought 200 clocks. The message does not state where they hang exactly; however, some hang in the meeting room with the time of day in different cities.

The bells cost 75.000 baht each and that was grist to the opposition Democrats' mill on yesterday's first day of budget proceedings [and apparently last year's bill as well]. Democrat Watchara Phetthong denounced the purchase and also questioned the expenditure of 5 trillion baht on renovation of the press room, and an annual expenditure of 2,3 million baht on a private garbage collection service. Previously, City Hall had collected the waste for 15.000 baht per year. [Yes, it really is.]

According to Democrat Sukij Atthopakorn, the reconciliation budget can be scrapped. Most of it goes to the military anyway. In addition, he wondered whether the activities of the red shirts might be financed with it. “Parliament and taxpayers are unable to hold the government accountable for that expenditure. It doesn't seem like the program is worth the money.'

Broadly speaking, Democrats criticized the government's poor fiscal discipline, budget overruns, unfair distribution of funds, and irregularities in some projects. Expenditure for the fiscal year 2014 (which runs from October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2014) is budgeted at 2.525 trillion baht and revenues at 2.275 trillion baht.

Economic news

– The Bank of Thailand is not worried about the rise in NPLs in the second quarter. They are mainly attributable to used car buyers. Compared to the total outstanding amount of loans, the amount is not too bad and they do not destabilize the financial institutions, says assistant governor Salinee Wangtal. The banks have made sufficient provisions to absorb the blows, also in the future.

In the second quarter, the percentage of NPLs (non-performing loans) increased from 1,5 to 1,7 percent, but the number special-mention (?) car loans also increased in that period: from 6,2 to 6,8 percent. As reported yesterday, Thanachart Bank has tightened the reins on used car lending.

– Oil farmers know for sure: safety becomes the principle of best practices but in response to the spill off the coast of Rayong, they admit that minor adjustments may be needed to better manage disasters. Today, the fact-finding committee that studied the spill announced its conclusions (see below).

Siri Jirapongphan, director of the Petroleum Institute of Thailand, thinks improvements can be made at the decision level. 'How can we improve the reactions of those responding to an accident? If a procedure is unclear, it should be improved.'

Siri points out that Thailand is a member of the Oil Industry Environmental Safety Group Association and Oil Spill Response Ltd. This means that international safety standards apply. Each operator conducts disaster drills and all companies conduct joint exercises with government departments.

It will take another month for the affected areas of Koh Samet to be released to tourists, but it will certainly take years for the island to return to its former glory, says Energy Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal. On Friday he had consultations with fifty oil transport companies. He has told them to review all measures.

– The island of Koh Samui will have to have one in 3 to 5 years low-carbon tourism destination by reducing energy consumption and solving environmental problems. At the same time, the percentage of hotel rooms must be increased by 30 to 50 percent. This future scenario is outlined by Thanongsak Somwong, chairman of the Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association.

Thanongsak says the rapid growth of tourism has created an energy shortage on the island. Last year the electricity went out for three days. There were also problems with sewage treatment. Koh Samui gets all its electricity from the mainland. Annual usage is increasing by 20 percent. The supply has been increased from 95 to 100 MW, but that increase is at most good for 10 years. 'We have to look for solutions that help us to grow sustainably; low-carbon tourism is one answer.'

The tourist locations on the island consume four times as much as households. Air conditioning accounts for half of a hotel's energy consumption. Some hotels have already made adjustments and advertise themselves as 'green hotels' with room rates that are sometimes 50 percent higher than those of non-green hotels. The article does not state what shows the green character.

To the island low-carbon Thanongsak mentions three measures: zoning of buildings in commercial and green zones, a public transport system and use of alternative energy such as solar energy and biogas from waste.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post