News from Thailand – September 16, 2012
And again Sukothai has been hit by floods, but this time ten villages in the province. Last Monday, the city was flooded after a river dike broke.
Hours stir caused a flood from the Huay Ma Thoen forest early yesterday morning. The water came so abruptly and early that residents barely had time to get their belongings to safety. Many houses and crops were damaged. The water reached heights of 50 cm to 2 meters in some places. Many roads became impassable. Soldiers from neighboring Phitsunalok province and personnel from the Forestry Department have been sent to the affected area to assist with evacuations.
- In Phrae province, the spillway of the Ban Mae Sin reservoir overflowed, flooding several villages. More than 200 households were affected. Initially, the residents thought that the embankment of the reservoir had collapsed, but that was not the case.
- In Phitsanulok province, soldiers are going to repair a bridge over the Yom River, which was damaged by the strong water current on September 13. Since then, the inhabitants of two villages have been cut off from the outside world. The repair work is expected to take two days.
- So far, 22.500 rai worth of fields in three districts in Phitsanulok have been destroyed by the water. Seven districts have been declared a disaster area.
- The residents in Phayao have been warned of a possible water flow from the forest.
– Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom (Trade) is sure: Thailand remains the world's No. 1 rice exporter. But actually that doesn't even matter as long as the farmers can sell their rice for a higher price, he says. And they do because the government buys the rice from the farmers at prices that are 40 percent above market prices.
According to Boonsong, the mortgage system for rice has no adverse effect on exports. "If that were the case, it would mean we sold less at a lower price." He says he has signed agreements for the sale of 7,3 million tons of rice to Indonesia, China, Bangladesh, Guinea, Ivory Coast and the Philippines. That rice will be delivered in May and June next year. After the sale, 4 million tons remain.
– Numerous wealthy families and top officials have illegally seized land in a self-help settlement [?] in Nakhon Ratchasima province. That land was intended for residents affected by the construction of the Lam Takhong dam, landless farmers and those who previously used the land. This has emerged from an investigation by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission.
The illegals may have applied under false pretenses to the cooperative that manages the settlement, and officials probably failed to check. A membership list of the cooperative shows that numerous well-to-do families became members between 1994 and 1996.
– Three paramilitary rangers and a caretaker were shot and burned early Saturday morning in the district of Muang (Yala). They were in a pickup truck, which came under fire and was set on fire. The police found more than a hundred cartridges. The rangers' M16 rifles were stolen.
In Cho Aitong (Narathiwat), authorities found a large plastic bag containing bomb-making materials and ammunition in a plantation on Saturday. Also arrested was a 23-year-old man suspected of detonating a bomb that injured two soldiers early last month.
– Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsin al-Turki, secretary general of the Muslim World League (MWL), based in Saudi Arabia, arrived in Bangkok yesterday. Together with other religious leaders, he attends a seminar devoted to religion and peace initiatives from Monday to Wednesday. The seminar is organized by the MWL, Religions for Peace International and the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies at Mahidol University.
– The Ministry of Agriculture has temporarily stopped buying rubber in Nakhon Phanom province, because it has been found that traders pose as farmers to take advantage of the government's guaranteed price. An investigation has shown that they sold 70 tons of rubber for 6,5 million baht.
The traders had bought the rubber from farmers who were short of money and did not want to sell it to the government because they would then have to wait a long time for their money. The farmers took for granted that they received less money than in the government program.
-About three thousand red shirts got a taste of the rally on Wednesday at the Democracy Monument on Saturday. It will be 6 years since the Thaksin government was overthrown. Some red shirts criticized the UDD (United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship) and the government, which they say are not doing anything to help the red shirts still imprisoned.
Economic news
– Compared to Singapore and Hong Kong, commuters in Bangkok use the subway very little. In Bangkok, less than 6 percent take the subway daily, in Singapore 40 percent and in Hong Kong 44 percent.
Nevertheless, passenger numbers are increasing. In fiscal year 2011-2012, the BTS (the overground subway) recorded passenger growth of 21 percent and growth of 2012 to 2013 percent is expected in 12-15. [The fiscal year runs from October 1-October 1.]
Daniel Ross, chief financial officer and head of investment at parent company BTS Group Holdings Plc, says passenger growth is being impacted by a number of factors, the most significant of which is expanding the network, bringing it to a greater share of Bangkok residents. Other factors include real estate development along the BTS lines, population growth, urbanization, increasing fuel costs and traffic congestion.
Over the next year and a half, the BTS fleet will be expanded by 35 percent or 55 trains. The first have already arrived from Germany. After assembly and testing, they will be operational in October or November. [An earlier report mentions a number of 40 trains: 35 from Germany and 5 from China.]
Regarding the expansion of the metro network, Ross points out that the government is committed to improving Bangkok's public transport system and accelerating the plans. The current network of 23,5 kilometers with 23 stations should have a length of 2029 kilometers in 495.
[The current metro network in Bangkok has a length of 80 km. The BTS runs above ground (24 km/23 stations), underground the MRTA (21 km/8 stations). The (above ground) Airport Rail Link has 8 stations and is 28,5 km long. There are also two extended BTS lines: Taksin-Wongwian Yai (2,2 km/2 stations) and the recently completed line On Nut-Bearing (5,3 km/5 stations.
Four new routes are under construction and another five are on the drawing board. When all of these have been installed, the network will have 2016 km in 236. Source: Bangkok property, supplement to Bangkok Post, October 28, 2011]
– The recently appointed new chairman of the board of Thai Airways International (THAI) awaits a mountain of problems. Last year, the 52-year-old airline lost 10,2 billion baht, staff are fighting, competition is fierce, operating costs are high and fuel prices are fluctuating. The question is therefore whether he is the most suitable person for the position, because he has no experience in this area, says an anonymous source.
A THAI driver who has been around for a long time, keeps himself somewhat on the level. "To be honest, we don't know his career very well." Others, also anonymous, who have met him describe him as a knowledgeable person with a friendly personality. "He seems to have a good understanding of running a business."
Sorajak Kasemsuvan (57) holds a PhD in Law from the University of London. He is currently chairman of the government broadcaster MCOT.
– After a long delay, the Board of Investment (BoI) has approved the criteria for the establishment of a steel dust recycling plant. The condition is that only raw materials that are available in Thailand are used.
Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong (Finance) calls such a factory suitable for Thailand because it recycles hazardous waste. In addition, the output can be used as a raw material, so that it no longer needs to be imported. [The article does not state which end product the minister is referring to and where and how it can be used.]
Minister Pongsvas Svasti (Industry) says that the impact on the environment and the location should be minimized as it is a substance classified as hazardous
From the applications that can be submitted until the end of November, the BoI will select two companies, because steel mills in Thailand do not produce more than 100.000 tons of steel dust. When more steel dust is produced in the future, the BoI may admit more companies, says Pongsvas.
– Over the past six years, neighborhood shopping centers have sprung up like mushrooms at the expense of large shopping centres. They have an attractive design and are located close to the consumer's home, which means that their number in Bangkok far exceeds that of the hypermarkets. "The lifestyle of Bangkokians has changed after last year's floods," said Surachet Kongcheep, senior research manager at real estate consultant Colliers International Thailand.
Meanwhile, the big boys are not sitting still, because they have introduced smaller formulas such as Mini Big C, Lotus Express and Talad Lotus. The development of large shopping centers has encountered problems in recent years due to opposition from local residents and stricter regulations. But the new neighborhood shopping centers are flourishing like never before. They have made their design more attractive and try to differentiate themselves from competitors in order to attract more customers.
– The Mitsubishi Mirage is selling like hot cakes in Thailand and Japan. Since its launch in March, 13.997 units of the ecocar have been sold in Thailand, giving the model a 30 percent share of the ecomarket. Another 36.000 units have been ordered; they have a delivery time of 4 months.
The overwhelming response is all the more remarkable given that some 10.300 Mirages have been recalled after 11 cars had fuel gauges malfunctioning. Inspections of the recalled vehicles are in progress and will be completed soon. Mitsubishi attributes the fast sales to fuel efficiency, driving comfort and a favorable price-product ratio.
Mitsubishi began exporting the Mirage to Japan in July. 1.792 have now been sold and 9.270 are on order. The production volume of the factory in Laem Chabang (Chon Buri) will soon be increased from 4.000 per month to 5.000 to 6.000.
[With a production of 6.000 per month, I arrive at a delivery time of up to 6 months for Thailand; excluding orders for Japan.]
www.dickvanderlug.nl – Source: Bangkok Post