News from Thailand – October 19, 2013

The Internal Security Act (ISA), which gives the police extensive powers, will remain in force in three districts of Bangkok until the end of November. The decision was made to prevent demonstrations at Government House. The current term of parliament ends on November 30.

The area covered by the ISA will not be extended to Uruphong, the district where about a thousand demonstrators camp. They settled there after the rally opposite the government center on October 10 was called off so as not to hinder the visit of the Chinese premier. Protesters who disagreed continued the rally at the Uruphong intersection. Initially there were about 250 to 400, but the police now estimate the number at around 1.000.

The decision to extend the ISA was taken on the basis of a statement by a protest leader in Uruphong, according to Paradorn Pattanatabut, secretary general of the National Security Council. He has said the group is considering returning to Government House when the ISA is dissolved. Originally, the ISA, which was instituted on October 9, was supposed to end on Friday. According to Paradorn, the protest is funded by 64 donors, both groups and individuals.

Meanwhile, the police are continuing negotiations with the demonstrators. [The newspaper does not mention what it expects to achieve] The center, which is responsible for enforcing the ISA, has been instructed to explain the situation to foreign diplomats.

Niran Pitakwatchara, commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, has strongly criticized the government for restricting people's freedom through the ISA. Next week, the NHRC will meet to determine whether to sue the government for violating the constitution, which enshrines citizens' rights to freedom of speech and assembly.

– An emergency store has been built behind the burnt-down complex of SuperCheap in Phuket, so that the company's employees do not have to lose their jobs. The store can continue to operate because it continues to be supplied. The goods must be sold quickly to prevent stocks from accumulating.

Yesterday it was very busy in the emergency housing, because there are many items for sale, including fresh fruit and vegetables, which are more expensive elsewhere. Incidentally, SuperCheap also has 45 outlets in the city. Excess staff are employed there.

When forensic tests show that the fire was an accident, workers will receive 75 percent of their salary within seven to XNUMX days as a temporary measure to help them, Phuket Governor Maitree Inthusut said. The provincial Red Cross also provides financial support to persons affected by the fire.

Half of the approximately 1.600-strong workforce has turned to authorities for help, said Deputy Governor Sommai Preechasil. The provincial employment office has 3.000 vacancies; families whose homes were damaged by the fire will each receive XNUMX baht. [See further News from Thailand from yesterday]

– On Friday it is nine years ago that 85 Muslims died in Tak Bai. Of those, 75 died of suffocation in army trucks when they were taken away. The authorities take into account that, as in previous years, insurgents will use that date to carry out attacks. The security measures are therefore being increased.

Army spokesman Pramote Prom-in defends the shooting of three alleged insurgents in Thung Yang Daeng (Pattani) on Tuesday. He says that he acted in accordance with the law. The insurgent who was detained confessed to planning attacks in Thung Yang Daeng and Mayo. Authorities have also identified those responsible for the destruction of 9 ATMs on October XNUMX in Yala.

The peace talks with resistance group BRN, which were to resume tomorrow, have been postponed indefinitely. Thailand is demanding a statement from BRN about the increase in violence. There is also a package of demands from BRN as a condition for continuing the peace talks. The government has still not responded to that. Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok, who is responsible for security policy in the South, is expected to convene a meeting soon to formulate a response.

– Next month and in February next year, Thailand must let the US know what it is doing against human trafficking. Prime Minister Yingluck has tasked Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanchana with chairing a team to prepare a report.

Thailand hopes to be able to move from the tier 2 to the tier 1 list of the US State Department or at least to remain on the tier 2 and not fall further, because then trade sanctions threaten.

Tier 1 means that the government fully meets the minimum requirements of the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act; tier 2: the country does not comply, but makes significant efforts to combat human trafficking. Thailand is still in the danger zone, because only a small number of suspects of human trafficking have been or are being prosecuted. According to a government spokesperson, Prime Minister Yingluck has said that the police, prosecutors and court should work more closely together in the fight against human trafficking.

– Border residents in Si Sa Ket want the bomb shelters to be repaired. They fear that violence will flare up after the ruling on 11 November by the International Court of Justice in The Hague in the Preah Vihear case. The air raid shelters have been damaged during previous fighting, they have been flooded or they are overgrown with weeds. [DvdL: Can't those people roll up their sleeves themselves?]

Border trade between Thailand and Cambodia is now going well, so much so that it is considering opening another border crossing in Chanthaburi. A decision on this will be taken at the next meeting of a committee. Prime Minister Yingluck is going to visit the border area in Chanthaburi. [The newspaper gives no date.]

– Sorajak Kasemsuvan can sleep peacefully again. He is allowed to stay as president of Thai Airways International (THAI). The board of directors has expressed confidence in him, but he must address the company's financial problems.

Earlier, rumors surfaced that his position was wavering due to the company's poor performance. And it still remains a little shaky, because he has to report on the progress twice a year.

THAI suffered a net loss of 8,4 billion baht in the second quarter of this year. The company is suffering from the global economic downturn and increased competition, which has reduced revenues from freight transport.

Sorajak has been made to understand that he needs to take a more proactive approach to strengthen THAI's market position. His management qualities must also be improved, the board believes. Sorajak has been the head of THAI for six months.

– Revision of the national curriculum should not be rushed. Revision only makes sense when the strengths and weaknesses of the teaching have been accurately identified. This is what academics say, but the newspaper again leaves me in the dark where and on what occasion these wise men said this. I also have to guess which type of school it concerns: primary or secondary education or both.

The Ministry of Education started revising the curriculum last year. The reason was the poor performance of Thai students on national and international tests. One of the proposals is to reduce the number of core subjects from eight to six and limit the number of contact hours, so that pupils can work independently more often. One controversial proposal is to bring together math and science in one box.

– A truck, loaded with gravel, ended up in a large hole in the road surface of the Ram Intra road in Bangkok yesterday. The hole, 6,5 meters wide and 7,5 meters deep, was dug to lay underground cables and covered with concrete slabs. But they were broken, presumably because another truck had run over them. The driver found out too late. Traffic was blocked for an hour. Buses could pass.

– The group Friends of the Asian Elephants supports the protest of mahouts against the proposed changes in the registration process for elephants. Registration moves from the Department of the Interior to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). The mahouts and owners of elephant parks fear that the service will confiscate animals. The DNP would also not be able to properly care for the animals.

– Nine empty freight wagons derailed at Nong Sung station on Thursday evening. The train was on its way back to Nakhon Ratchasima after gravel was delivered in Nong Khai. There were no injuries. Train traffic between Bangkok and Nong Khai was blocked until Friday morning.

– An explosion in a factory of fireworks in Ban Pa Daed (Chiang Mai) killed two men. Two other people were injured and two cars were damaged.

– Since July 1, Thais no longer need a visa to enter Japan, but now Thais are going to work there illegally. The Japanese immigration police have announced that they will check more strictly at the border for a return ticket and accommodation. Those who cannot show proper documents will be sent back straight away.

The visa exemption has been in effect since July 1. Travelers get a so-called visa waiver for 15 days. The Japanese authorities suspect that an average of 50 Thai people stay in the country longer than allowed each month. So far, 200 Thais illegally residing in the country have been discovered, most of them women believed to work in massage parlors. They are said to have been sent to work in Japan by Thai mediators against payment of 300.000 baht. Those who run into the lamp can be fined 940.000 baht or more or go to jail.

– Rescue workers recovered another fourteen victims of the crash with the Laotian plane yesterday (photo). A total of thirty bodies have now been found. There were 44 passengers and 5 crew members on board. Five Thais were among the passengers. The aircraft lies at the bottom of the Mekong River. It crashed heavily on commencement of landing to Pakse airfield. (Photo homepage: Relatives of the disaster.)

[youtube]http://youtu.be/OkGDEW0FLrI[/youtube]

Political news

– 'This amnesty will increase conflicts and divisions in the future. It is an invitation to civil war.' Opposition leader Abhisit yesterday unvarnished criticism of the amnesty proposal, as amended by a parliamentary committee. If I have understood correctly, the bottom line is that just about everyone, regardless of what they have on their record, will receive an amnesty. The proposal would even open the way for former Prime Minister Thaksin to reclaim the 46 billion baht seized from him.

The amnesty proposal, submitted by Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema, has already been approved by parliament in first reading. The amended proposal will now receive a second and third reading in parliament. The amnesty applies to persons arrested in political disturbances between September 2006 (military coup) and 10 May 2011.

The committee that amended the proposal consisted of 23 MPs, including Abhisit. The amended proposal was adopted by a vote of 18 to 5. According to the Democrats, it deviates significantly from the proposal adopted by parliament at first reading. Unfortunately I can't make sense of the article in the newspaper, so I'll leave it at that.

Economic news

– Mobile phone numbers may be expanded by 1 digit to 11 digits. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission is considering the expansion because it expects a shortage of numbers in the future. With one digit added, the telephone companies have hundreds of millions of extra numbers.

According to Takorn Santasit, secretary general of the NBTC, operators have already complained that they are short of numbers due to the migration to 3G and the proliferation of iinternet connected devices [?]. Currently 140 million numbers are available, of which 100 million are reserved for the prefix 01 and the rest for 09.

The NBTC urges operators to use numbers properly and to rotate existing numbers more effectively. It is being considered to relax the restrictions on the return of unused numbers by setting the minimum to 1.000 instead of the current 10.000. Then a better use can be made of unused numbers.

– The Standard Chartered Bank forecasts an economic growth of 5,5 percent next year if the government's investments in waterworks and infrastructure start. When FDIs (foreign direct investment) also increase, gross domestic product will increase by 1,2 percent, says economist Usara Wilaipich. If government projects stagnate, economic growth will amount to 4,3 percent.

The bank expects economic growth of 4 percent this year. This forecast is midway between that of the NESDB (3,8-4,3 pc) and other private research companies (2,7-3,7 pc).

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post