News from Thailand – June 15, 2014

Advertising for the movie 'The Legend of King Naresuan 5' in front of Siam Paragon shopping mall. This morning the film will be screened for free in 160 cinemas across the country.

More news about the exodus of Cambodian workers (see Cambodians are fleeing Thailand in large numbers). Sam Rainsy, leader of the opposition Cambodia Nation Rescue Party, is shocked at the alleged mistreatment of Cambodians in Thailand.

Cambodians who have returned say the army has raided the homes of suspected illegal migrants. They also allegedly tore up documents from Cambodians legally working in Thailand. A Cambodian human rights group claims the army killed nine migrants.

A construction worker told the Phnom penh post that his employer gave him a choice: "Go home now or stay and face soldiers who may arrest you or even shoot you."

Another worker: 'They came to pick up all three hundred workers from the construction site. First they took our luggage and then us. They locked us up and told us to pay 300 baht to get out. When we got to the checkpoint, the police threatened us with sticks and we had to stand in line. That's how they treated us.'

The NCPO denies deporting and mistreating Cambodians. Many migrants would return to their country to help with the rice harvest. NCPO spokesman Patamaporn Rattanadilok Na Phuket says the NCPO does not intend to launch a roundup against Cambodian workers, although it has formed a committee to review immigration policies for foreign workers.

The NCPO is aware that there are 'rumours' circulating about such a raid. These have caused employers to panic and have sent migrants away. Coupleider Prayuth has ordered authorities to assist Cambodians in their return. He wants them to return home safely.

– The junta dismisses concerns about torture and human rights violations. Those concerns are voiced by some international and domestic groups, according to the NCPO, who "do not fully understand" Thailand's political situation.

“Because the country is in unusual circumstances, some measures are being taken to ensure human rights for the majority of the population. That is not a violation of their rights, because they are concerned about it," said NCPO spokesperson Winthai Suvaree.

'There is no torture. The NCPO has already provided information on the conditions under which some leaders of political groups are being held. That should be enough to allay the concerns.'

On dividing the media, Winthai says that the media can be divided into three categories. The first group is not directly involved in the political unrest. The second stirs up unrest, distorts the news, conducts smear campaigns and violates people's rights. This group needs to change its attitude. The third group includes illegal media, which are the job of media watchdog NBTC.

Concerns about the political situation in Thailand have been expressed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, among others. They have insisted on respect for human rights and called for a speedy restoration of the rule of law.

– Eight people have become blind after poorly performed 'filler injections', a cosmetic treatment to remove wrinkles. The Dermatological Society of Thailand (DST) is calling for tighter controls and penalties for operators of unregistered clinics. She recommends getting the job done by a doctor when clinic clients want fillers for their faces beyond the usual indication.

Measures [which?] have been announced by the Department of Health Service Support (DHSS), the DST, the Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Protection Police Division. They have looked into the problem of illegal clinics after a raid on an unregistered clinic in Sutthisan (Bangkok), where unqualified personnel performed operations.

Boonruang Triruangworawat, director general of the DHSS, has the impression that the number of problems with filler injections is increasing. The eight people who became blind were treated in Thailand and South Korea. They underwent rhinoplasty.

– Taxi drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers and minivan operators rely on the junta (NCPO) to put an end to rampant extortion practices. Given the absolute power of the NCPO, it is easier for it to stop these practices.

Taxi driver Nopparuj Fukittiwin is confident. The junta is not bothered by it red tape and can act faster than a democratically elected government. But the problem has been around for a long time, so it will take time to solve it. Nopparuj says that taxi drivers are approached when they enter Mo Chit bus station. They are told to dock.

The same is happening at shopping malls and in tourist areas. Taxi drivers also refuse to turn on their meters and charge customers too high an amount. Nopparuj avoids those places because otherwise he will get in trouble with other drivers.

Junta leader Prayuth has already ordered an end to the extortion practices. He wants to see results within a month. The services involved must report weekly.

The profession of motorcycle taxi driver is not a fat pot. Laor Aiamkae calculates that he makes an average of 500 to 600 baht per day. Of that, 300 baht goes to petrol. Drivers must pay 400 baht to agents every month 'for protection'. Without this expenditure item, the rates could be reduced, he believes.

A minivan driver says he has to cough up 120 baht every day for a parking space at the busy CentralPlaza Lardphrao shopping mall. That money is collected by 'men in uniform'.

– Television watchdog NBTC is under fire from the Digital Media for Consumer Association (DMCA). The association accuses the NBTC of ill-informing the population about the switch from analogue to digital television.

Families will receive a 1.000 baht coupon from the NBTC, but not everyone understands what the switch entails. The coupon can be used when purchasing a digital set top box.

DMCA vice president Visarut Piyakulawat thinks the amount is too low to entice people to buy such a box. The association is annoyed that it only finds out what the NBTC does through press releases. “This is not a small project. 25 billion baht is spent on the coupons.'

A representative of the NBTC acknowledges that the information is getting off to a slow start, but this is because the digital rollout is still in its infancy. Most of Thailand's 48 digital channels started broadcasting earlier this year. The analog signal will be dropped in 2020.

– When the violence flares up, the curfew will be reinstated, warns the NCPO. "If we cannot maintain this level of calm, we will consider bringing back the curfew," said NCPO spokesman Winthai Suvaree.

According to the NCPO, there are currently no indications that groups want to provoke violence, which is why the curfew imposed on May 22 was lifted on Friday, after restrictions had been lifted in some tourist places.

Lifting the curfew does not mean that security measures will be relaxed. The search for illegal weapons continues unabated.

A grenade exploded on Rama IX road (Bangkok) a few hours before the curfew was lifted. Two cars and a police station were damaged. Police do not think there is any connection to the curfew. It is being investigated whether the attack had a political motive. Camera images from the area are being studied to identify the perpetrators.

– The construction of two controversial dams, Mae Wong in Nakhon Sawan and Kaeng Sua Ten in Phrae, is something for the long term. This is what Lertviroj Kowattana, director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), says after a conversation with Prayuth on Thursday.

The coup leader has asked the RID to help revise the water management plans, for which the previous government wanted to allocate 350 billion baht. The NCPO will form a new panel that will scrutinize the plans.

According to Lertviroj, the construction of the two dams should be subject to environmental impact assessments and public hearings. Two projects from the plans of the previous government can be implemented immediately: the construction of a water reservoir in Surin and anti-flood works in Hat Yai (Songkhla).

– The junta will make its decision on the four planned high-speed lines dependent on a feasibility study. It can be on the table within three months. The construction is part of the infrastructure works for which the previous government had wanted to borrow 2 trillion baht, a decision that was overturned by the Constitutional Court.

The plans for the four lines have not been scrapped, says Somchai Siriwattanachoke, permanent secretary of the transport ministry, but they are considered "not urgent."

Last week, a strategy committee of the ministry increased the amount needed from 2 trillion to 3 trillion baht. She added some projects such as the construction of a deep-sea port and the expansion of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang.

– The National Anti-Corruption Commission intends to enforce more strictly the requirement for political authorities to provide an overview of their financial position. If they do not come up with data within three months, they risk a political ban of 5 years. The stricter approach should prevent corruption. Politicians are required to submit an annual statement of their assets and liabilities.

Economic news

– RS Plc, the company that owns the broadcasting rights of the World Cup, will indemnify buyers of its decoder and subscribers to the World Cup Channel. RS has sold 300.000 decoders, costing 1.590 baht, but they are no longer needed now that TV watchdog NBTC and RS have agreed to broadcast all matches on a free-to-air TV channel. Initially, only 22 games would be free to watch.

The decoder can be handed in at the RS warehouse in Rangsit and at any post office. The amount paid will be refunded in full. That joke could cost the company 477 million baht.

– About 500.000 small and medium-sized companies depend on gas. They are facing serious liquidity problems. Companies that sell food and beverages, hotels, the retail and wholesale trade and the tourism sector are the hardest hit, according to a poll by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

'They can be compared to patients in intensive care. They desperately need financial help to extend their lives," said UTCC President Sauwanee Thairungroj. Sauwanee believes that in the long term the government should support SMEs for further training and the development of financial know-how.

Thailand has 2,7 million SMEs. Of these, 20 percent have been hit hard by the political unrest. The UTCC is proposing to the government to form a 50 billion baht fund to help companies that do not have access to sources of financing. Another concern is unemployment. The UTCC hopes that the new infrastructure plan being worked on by the junta will boost employment and increase the confidence of international investors.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post

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