News from Thailand – December 15, 2013

The armed forces support the general election on February 2. Commander-in-Chief Tanasak Patimapragorn stated this yesterday after a meeting with the anti-government movement.

"When Mr. Suthep [Thaugsuban, action leader] is concerned that the elections are not transparent, there should be a 'central panel' to educate the population about free and fair elections," he added.

Suthep, meanwhile, keeps his leg stiff. "The February 2 elections will not take place," he told his supporters last night at the Democracy Momument. He promised to stop anyone from forcing elections before national reforms take place.

The meeting at the Peace Operations Center of the Royal Thai Armed Forces on Chaeng Wattana Road was attended not only by Suthep and the army command (in civilian clothes, see photo), but also by representatives of the Lawyers Council of Thailand and the Thai Chamber of Commerce, among others. . They also spoke about possible solutions to the conflict.

– The European Union has joined the now more than forty countries that are concerned about the situation in Thailand. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said in a statement released yesterday that all parties should adhere to democratic principles, avoid escalation and resolve their differences through peaceful means. Ashton calls on all parties to use the February 2 elections to move forward peacefully 'within Thailand's democratic and constitutional framework'.

– Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul (Foreign Affairs) denounces the businessmen and academics who support Suthep's plan for a Volksraad. He calls on them to think carefully about the possible negative consequences for the country. "If Suthep's anti-government movement succeeds in forming a government without democratic elections, Thailand will lose its credibility in the international community."

– The police yesterday, without any opposition from protesters, 'recaptured' an area on the south side of Government House, which had been occupied for two weeks. Vehicles set on fire on December 1 and 2 have been removed. Bangkok's electricity and water company has been asked to reconnect electricity and water after being cut off by protesters on Thursday. Some roads in the area have reopened.

– As previously reported, the opposition party Democrats will not participate in the government-rigged reform forum, which is meeting for the first time today. The party refuses to be used as a 'rubber stamp' by the board. [How do we say that in Dutch?]

According to Democrat Ong-art Klampaiboon, the forum is leading nowhere. In August, Yingluck also formed a forum and invited foreign speakers, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Now the government just wants to buy time, says Ong-art.

“She is disingenuous about solving the problem. It is not at all certain that the conclusions of the forum will really be followed. The government is just trying to build up its image of pursuing reforms.'

– Action leader Suthep Thaugsuban has called on rural doctors to form provincial branches of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC). He made the call yesterday at a forum at Thammasat University attended by XNUMX people from across the country. 'Country doctors are respected by the local population.'

Suthep asked them to set up these departments with health volunteers, farmers, businessmen and educators in order to gain support for national reforms. “We must unite and join forces regardless of [political] affiliation. For the sake of the country, we must open our hearts and accept ideas from all sides.'

President Kriangsak Watcharanukulkiat of the Rural Doctors' Society thinks talking about the provincial structure is premature. He pointed out that those departments will meet resistance from red shirts in some provinces. "The PDRC must accept the fact that red shirts also own the land and be willing to listen to their wishes."

– The government pays little attention to the fate of children who are victims of violence in the South. There is no government service specifically for children and there are no separate figures on child victims. Nor are data available on their mental health and quality of life.

This says Suphawan Phuengratsami, president of a child and family organization, following the injury of a 2-year-old boy on Wednesday. Doctors saved the life of the boy who was hit in the stomach, but his injuries are serious and he is in a lot of pain. The toddler is one of many children injured or killed in the Deep South. He will still need a lot of care from his family and the government, says Suphawan. His father was killed in the shooting and his sister was injured when she fell off the motorcycle.

– The tender for the Pink Line, which has been delayed for a year, is being delayed even more now that the government is outgoing. Initially it was supposed to take place in February, now it won't be until the middle of next year. The earlier delay is due to the line becoming a monorail. The route measures 34,5 kilometers and connects Khae Ra with Min Buri. The line will have 24 stations.

– Opposition Democrats believe that the government should protest to the US against reports that it has hired a lobbyist to get the US to build a naval air base in Thailand. Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and the Royal Thai Navy denied on Friday that such a deal exists. The message came out through the US Department of Justice. See further News from Thailand From yesterday.

– 38,18 percent of 1.251 respondents in a poll by the National Institute of Development Administration believe that the political news on channels 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and Thai PBS is biased; 38,05 percent think not. Just under 24 percent have no opinion.

– Taxpayers, or at least those who will benefit from them, can breathe a sigh of relief as the new tax rates and brackets go into effect this tax year. The king has ratified the decision with his signature. Middle incomes in particular benefit from the changes.

Economic news

– Experts warn that economic growth could be jeopardized next year if political conflicts continue. Kongkiat Opaswongkarn, head of Asia Plus Securities, says the Thai economy could grow by 5 percent, but the preliminary forecast is 3,6 percent against 2,9 percent this year.

Even if elections are held next year, a 5 percent growth rate is unlikely. According to Kongkiat, it could be a very long time before the economy shows signs of recovery if the country continues on the same path and fails to address fundamental issues.

– There are no figures, but the Ministry of Tourism and Sports already expects that the number of tourists will fall during the New Year countdown and that it will continue to fall until the Chinese New Year, if the protests in Bangkok continue.

Diwat Sidthilaw, permanent secretary of the ministry, said on Saturday that tourists planning to come to Thailand can change their travel destination to neighboring countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore. Thailand is expected to welcome 26 million tourists this year, 2 million short of the target of 28 million. They bring in 1,15 trillion baht.

Once the protests are over, the ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand will get together to define a strategy for attracting more tourists.5

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post