News from Thailand – January 2, 2014

Would reason still prevail with ruling party Pheu Thai? Pawit Thongroj, adviser to the Minister of Education, will propose to the Minister to stop the 'Tablet PC per Child' program, an initiative launched by Pheu Thai during the 2011 elections.

That would be good news, because just handing out tablets has no educational value whatsoever. But it must be feared that the consultant's alternative also falls short of the same misplaced high expectations of technology in education. He argues for a 'smart classroom', where technology leads to a miraculous improvement in education. That room must be equipped with 30 tablet computers, a smart board, server and class management software.

The main advantage of the classroom is that better use is made of the education budget and problems with the procurement of the tablets are avoided, says Pawit, who the paper calls one of Pheu Thai's education experts.

This school year is the second year in which students received a tablet. The first year, all Prathom 1 students received such a device, this year also the students of Mathayom 1, but as far as I know not all tablets have been distributed yet, due to problems with the tender. To date, 1,6 million tablets have found their way into education.

[Readers who are disturbed by my somewhat colored reporting, I would like to point out that as a former teacher with a solid training course and many years of experience in primary education and higher vocational education, I believe I have some understanding of education and didactics.]

– The 'seven dangerous days' resulted in 27 road fatalities and 31 injuries in 266 accidents during the first five days, 2.502 to 2.355 December. Nakhon Ratchasima province is still leading with 15 deaths. 10 people were killed in Buri Ram and Surat Thansi and 8 each in Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

– The army has ordered military rangers to set up outposts along the Budu mountain range in the deep South, so that resistance fighters can no longer use the area for training camps and as a hideout. The army has never stationed soldiers in the area, although weapons caches and shelters have often been found.

The army deploys three companies in the area, which is 293 square kilometers and spans Bacho, Yi-ngo, Rangae, Rueso, Chanae and Waeng in Narathiwat; Raman in Yala and Kapho in Pattani. The deployment is not without risk, because the number of resistance fighters exceeds the number of soldiers, which makes them vulnerable to attack.

– Prime Minister Yingluck and the army leaders yesterday paid Prem Tinsulanonda, chairman of the Privy Council (an advisory body to the king), the traditional New Year's visit. The commander-in-chief of the army had other obligations and was replaced by his second man. The visit lasted say and write 15 minutes. This was followed by a visit to the Army Club where Yingluck and the military leaders spent an hour talking about the political situation, and a visit to the police headquarters.

– Red shirt prisoners in the Lak Si (political) prison who could have benefited from the (deleted) amnesty proposal, still support the government. There are 23 prisoners in prison who were convicted of arson and illegal possession of weapons during the riots in 2010.

Although they regret that the amnesty proposal that led to the dissolution of the House of Representatives has been withdrawn, they still stand firmly behind the government and denounce the protests as improper and illegal.

One of them calls [action leader Suthep's] demand that the Shinawatra family leave the country for good, 'ridiculous'. 'I think they're crazy because they feel superior to others. They really don't understand the principle of equal rights in a democracy," said Pattama Moolmil, who was sentenced to 34 years for arson at Ubon Ratchathani County Hall in May 2010.

“Their insults of rural people are unacceptable. I wonder if they can grow rice and fruit, do housework, provide transport and clean offices when we revolt.'

Another prisoner, also from Ubon Ratchathani, calls himself a political prisoner who has been deprived of his freedom. "We want reconciliation, but in the current political climate it will be difficult." [Never knew that arson and illegal possession of weapons are a political offense.]

– The new year started in Bangkok with a firefight at Mor Chit bus station. Five men were killed and six injured. The gentlemen came to blows at an online game shop. The conflict started with a brawl, but later a group of fifteen men armed with firearms returned and set fire to the pan.

– It was also made very easy for two men to steal a Toyota Vios. It was standing in front of a house in Nonthaburi with the engine running. So they drove off with it. A 3-year-old girl was sleeping in the car. They dumped it in a village in Ayutthaya. The car thieves were apprehended after a chase by the police in Muang (Ratchaburi). Not that difficult, because the car had ended up in a ditch.

– Numerous rubber companies in the South are struggling with a labor shortage. According to an anonymous expert, who will not give his name [but then how do we know he is an expert?], the industry is short of 40.000 workers. Half of the Northern and Northeastern workers who had moved to the South to earn a living are returning.

The fishing industry is also short of hands. It mainly has to rely on migrants from Cambodia and Myanmar. The authorities are considering recruiting people from Bangladesh or Rohingya.

Election news

– The Electoral Council will decide today whether the elections will take place on 2 February. There is no extension of the registration deadline for district candidates, said Phuchong Nutrawong, secretary general of the Electoral Council. Government party Pheu Thai has insisted on an extension, because demonstrators in eight southern provinces have blocked registration.

In 24 constituencies of Surat Thani, Krabi, Trang, Phatthalung and Songkhla provinces, the election candidates could not enter the registration centers; no candidates showed up in the other provinces. The registration that started on Saturday ended yesterday.

Across the country, 1.272 candidates in 347 constituencies have registered. In 22 electoral districts in 22 provinces, voters have little choice, as only one candidate's name appears on the ballot paper. In Bangkok, 168 candidates from 23 parties have registered.

During today's meeting, the Electoral Council will also consider how to help the 123 candidates who were unable to register and who have filed a report with the police.

Also today, Electoral Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn will meet with board members of ruling party Pheu Thai and opposition party Democrats to seek a solution to the political unrest. "We believe that the meeting can provide a solution that eases political tension," Somchai said. The protest movement has also been invited, but has not yet responded.

According to opposition leader Abhisit, the government holds the key to solving the political crisis. Unless the government steps back and is willing to compromise, political tension will continue at every stage of the election process and after the government is sworn in. But if the government proves willing to be open, all parties involved can make proposals and settle their differences.

Happy New Year

It only remains for me to wish the readers of News from Thailand a happy new year. If you want to do that in person and live in Thailand or are on vacation, feel free to come to Thailandblog's New Year's reception on January 12 in Bangkok. The data can be found here: https://www.thailandblog.nl/van-de-redactie/meld-je-aan-nieuwjaarsreceptie-van-thailandblog/

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post