News from Thailand – July 20, 2014
As well as opening yesterday Bangkok Post today with a big story about the plane crash. Because you, reader of Thailandblog, probably follow the news about the disaster through other news channels, I will skip this article. Moreover, it is not focused on the Netherlands, which is where we are most interested.
– The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) is concerned about further restrictions on freedom of expression. TJA president Pradit Ruangdit yesterday said he had consulted with media organizations about announcement 97 of the junta. According to him, this edict can limit people's right to information.
Announcement 97 prohibits interviewing individuals in such a way that the interview may create or exacerbate conflict. Facts must not be distorted, society must not be confused and the interview must not lead to violence.
It is also prohibited to disseminate false information, reports that are libelous to individuals and information that could be considered an affront to the monarchy or a threat to national security.
The media are also prohibited from disseminating criticism of the work of the NCPO and its staff, as well as confidential government information in any form: sound recordings, images or video clips.
And the junta is still not satisfied, because publishing or broadcasting information calling on people to oppose the NCPO and its staff is also prohibited. In short: a whole laundry list of prohibitions.
Soldiers, provincial governors and municipal and provincial police commissioners have the power to shut down media that go wrong. According to Pradit, they can abuse their position of power because the guidelines are not clear. Next week, the TJA will hold a meeting with the management of media organizations to discuss the matter and jointly determine how to deal with the instructions.
– Coupleider Prayuth Chan-ocha has appealed to those who have fled abroad to return. He promises that they will be treated justly.
“Think it over and come back. Why do we keep fighting each other? If you come back and lend a helping hand, I think the Thai people will forgive you. Please come back. We can no longer remain in conflict. We must work together to lead the country to a better future.'
According to political observers, Prayuth's message was directed at former Prime Minister Thaksin, who is believed to be leading the red shirt and anti-coup movement. Thaksin has lived in exile in Dubai since 2008.
A board member of the former governing party Pheu Thai called Prayuth's call "a positive step towards unity", but he warned those who have been asked to return to make sure that justice is done to them. If the junta wants those living in exile to return, it should abolish the court-martial and return to the three-tier court system, he says.
Nipat Intarasombat, deputy party leader of the Democrats, says his party also wants the fugitives to return and submit to the legal process so that "this all comes to an end." Those who fled before or after the May 22 coup now have a chance at a fair trial. He asks the junta to reconsider a request for Thaksin's deportation.
Suriyasai Katasila, coordinator of the Green Politics group and core member of the anti-government movement, welcomed Prayuth's call. 'Promoting public respect for the judiciary is essential in building national unity.'
– In October, the construction of double track will start on five busy train routes. The rails will be the same width as the current track, despite plans to go to 1,435 meters, the track gauge in the other Southeast Asian countries. When the rails are in place, more freight can be transported and logistics costs are reduced, said leader Prayuth Chan-ocha during his weekly TV talk on Friday.
The routes that will be doubled are (in order of priority): Chachoengsao-Khlong Sib Kao-Kaeng (Saraburi), Lop Buri-Pak Nam Pho (Nakhon Sawan), Map Kabao (Saraburi)-Thanon Chira Junction (Nakhon Ratchasima), Nakhon Pathom-Nong Pla Duk junction (Ratchaburi)-Hua Hin and Prahuap Khiri Khan-Chumphon.
– Economic growth this year may be higher than previously expected, thinks the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). The national economic think tank bases this on exports, which increased substantially after the coup. The council previously predicted economic growth of 1,5 to 2,5 percent; now it is expected to exceed 2 percent.
Exports contribute 75 percent to gross domestic product. If exports increase by 3 to 5 percent this year, Thailand's GDP will grow by 2,5 percent. In the first five months of this year, exports contracted by 0,2 percent, but jumped to 7,2 percent in June. To achieve the target of 3 to 5 percent, exports must increase by 6 to 7 percent in the second half of the year.
According to NESDB deputy secretary-general Poramethee Wimolsiri, this is possible due to two factors: low growth in the second half of last year and 'flat' prices for exports.
– A Thai woman who saved the lives of two British children during the tsunami in 2004 received an honorary plaque and certificate from the governor of Phuket yesterday. The woman came into the picture after the British posted a call on Facebook asking for help in tracking down their rescuer. Fifteen hours later, the woman was located.
The two Brits arrive in Thailand today. "I have not prepared anything special to welcome them, but if they come and want something to eat, I will prepare it for them," said Yupin Sengmuang, who runs a restaurant in Kathu.
– Keep political influence outside the school doors. Sompong Jitradup, a lecturer at the Faculty of Education at Chulalongkorn University, made that call yesterday during a forum of the Ministry of Education devoted to education reform. At the same time, local education management and the private sector should be given more influence on education policy, he believes.
Other issues raised related to decentralization and greater continuity in educational policy changes. The Forum agreed that the current top-down approach must end; the student should be the focus.
Varakorn Samakoses, rector of Dhurakit Pundit University, pointed out the problem of discontinuity. 'If a political party makes way for another party, education policy will also change. Politicians need to stop being teachers please with the sole purpose of acquiring votes.'
– Thai Airways International (THAI) has made a business plan that aims to increase revenue by 3 billion baht next year and reduce costs by 4 billion baht. Prajin Juntong, Chairman of the Board of Directors, expects the company's financial position to improve in the third quarter of next year.
Last year, THAI suffered a loss of 12 billion baht and in the first quarter it was 2,63 billion baht in the red. It is expected that losses will still be made this year. Prajin takes into account that staff will have to be made redundant. THAI currently has 25.000 employees.
Kaeng Krachan National Park staff may have been negligent in the case of Porlajee Rakchongcharoen, the Karen activist who has been missing since April. The office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission will form a working group to investigate the course of events. Porlajee was arrested at the time for allegedly possessing wild honey, but failed to hand him over to the police. He has been missing ever since.
Porjalee was committed to the fate of the Karen who live there. In 2011, authorities set fire to the huts of twenty Karen residents. According to park head Chaiwat, they were in a protected forest area. Porjalee gathered evidence and sought witnesses.
www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post
I often read this in the Dutch-language press. “…Thaksin has lived in exile in Dubai since 2008…”.
That is inconsistent with “…appealing to those who have fled abroad to return…”
Thaksin has not been exiled. Napoleon was exiled. Thaksin is on the run because a sentence is being executed in Thailand. However ?
Indeed. Thaksin chose his own exile. If he had stayed in Thailand, he would have already served his prison sentence for the Rachapisek land purchase. It should be noted that a number of lawsuits are still pending against him, including his personal intervention in increasing a loan to Myanmar so that they could buy communications equipment from a company in which he has major interests.
Sources in Bangkok also claim that he is no longer welcome in Dubai but mostly stays in Hong Kong.
@ Erik It doesn't say he was banned; it says he lives in exile – self-chosen exile in his case. He is also on the run, fled Thailand, has left his homeland behind, abandoned, etc. How beautiful is our Dutch language that you can say the same thing in many ways.
Thaksin has been banished or in exile because, to put it mildly, his conviction was heavily influenced by the junta that ousted his government in 2006.
If corruption is to be eradicated in Thailand, it may take some time!
Many have butter on their heads - including the supporters of the so-called yellow shirts.
Eliminating corruption in Thailand? Have a nice thought. However ….
And furthermore, the junta is doing a good job of curtailing press freedom! Will like the west .
@dyna Thaksin ran away in 2008 to avoid his 2 year prison sentence. He received this for abuse of power during the purchase of land by his then wife. There are still many cases against Thaksin that have yet to be dealt with. For an overview see: http://www.dickvanderlugt.nl/buitenland/thailand-2011/thais-nieuws-juni-2011/de-zaak-thaksin/
You don't really believe that the judiciary is independent, do you? I have said before and without taking sides , there are many who are eligible for legal action and consequently imprisonment . It depends on the color of the government or the military regime - who is convicted or not. Earlier Chris said that Suthep was indeed arrested , yes and put back on the street after a day ! Everything that man has said and done is covered with the cloak of love ( read junta ) .
I do see reactions above to the news about Thaksin, but not to what is in fact much more serious: the continuing curtailment of freedom of expression by the illegal military regime. This way they can keep shouting that the Thai population is behind them for a long time, if you suppress and punish all dissenting voices……………………
Shorten press freedom? Just an extra cup on top of what was already there. Nothing new. Unfortunately, freedom of the press has been a farce in this country for years. How many internet sites banned? Must be in the tens of thousands and that was already the case before the coup.
And as for Mr. Thaksin, let's just say he is more than welcome here…
And what has General Prayuth achieved in recent years in the South of Thailand.
Absolutely nothing.
Bomb attacks kill and injure people by Muslim fundamentalists almost every day in the news.
Jan Beute.