News from Thailand – October 20, 2013

Relatives of the five Thais who died in the crash in Laos have pleaded with the authorities in Pakse to continue the search for bodies. So far, 36 of the 49 bodies (44 passengers and 5 crew members) have been recovered, but the bodies of the Thai victims have not yet been found. The relatives made their plea because they are afraid that the search will be stopped because of the strong current of the Mekong.

The twin-engine Lao Airlines plane crashed in heavy weather on its descent to Pakse airport on Wednesday. It ended up in the river and disappeared under water. The black box and hull of the device have not yet been found.

Photos: Thai Navy divers with sonar search for victims and the wreckage.

– Thailand's most eligible bachelor is heartthrob Sittha Sapanuchart. At least according to the magazine Cleo which announced its 50 most eligible bachelors earlier this month. During a party in the Zense Gourmet Deck & Lounge Panorama, framed by music by Two Popetorn and Scrubb, tension ran high among the audience, who made no secret of who was the favourite.

The highlight of the evening was of course the announcement of the fifty winners and, just like at the Oscars, they had a chat on stage. The crowd cheered and melted at the sight of all those attractive bachelors.

In addition to the title of 'The Most Eligible Bachelor of 2013', other awards were presented, such as 'The Most Feel So Good Bachelor', 'The Most Easy Going Bachelor' and 'The Most Well Groomed Bachelor'. (Source: Ad Bangkok Post)

– Former sports shooter Jakkrit Panichpatikum (40) was shot dead in Min Buri (Bangkok) last night. His housekeeper, who was with him in his Porsche, was injured by broken glass. Jakkrit died on the way to the hospital. He was attacked by the pillion passenger of a passing motorcyclist. He fired three shots.

The police suspect that the murder attempt is related to personal conflicts, a love affair, gambling or drugs, with a personal conflict as the most likely motive. Jakkrit was arrested in July for threatening his wife with a firearm. He was charged with attempted murder, assault, illegal possession of firearms and violent conduct and was released on bail. In his heyday, Jakkrit won bronze at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.

– Fifty houses, most of them made of wood, in Klong Toey (Bangkok) went up in flames yesterday. The fire was fought with fifteen jets from the expressway and with twenty on the ground. It took firefighters more than an hour to contain the fire. Injuries have not been reported.

– Eight soldiers and five journalists were injured in bomb attacks yesterday. A bomb exploded on the side of a road in Rangae (Narathiwat) lying under a tree. At that moment a patrol of six soldiers passed by. They were charged with protecting voters for the local council.

After the blast, bomb experts and journalists rushed to the crime scene, only to be victims of a second blast an hour later. A bomb hung in a tree injured them. The victims were treated at Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Hospital.

In Yala, the police found a box of explosives under an ATM of the Krung Thai bank yesterday. The bomb was defused in time.

– The fire-resistant facilities in SuperCheap, the complex that burned down last week, were inadequate, says vice-chairman Bandit Pradapsuk of the Association of Siamese Architects and he fears that this applies to many buildings in Phuket.

Bandit led an inspection of the complex yesterday. There were no proper emergency exits and there was no adequate access for fire trucks. Bandit wonders how it is possible that a building where 2.700 people worked and hundreds of customers came every day, was not equipped with better facilities.

Meanwhile, local residents are complaining about the stench of the fire extinguishing water, which is lying there and has nowhere to go. The governor of Phuket has ordered a quick solution.

Yesterday morning Phuket was again rocked by a fire, this time at a market near Karon beach. Seven stores were destroyed.

– The Mekong Basin Community Council Network (MBCC) has called on the government to oppose the construction of two dams in the Mekong: the Xayaburi dam and the Don Sahong dam, both in Laos. According to the network, the dams threaten the livelihoods of sixty million people. The MBCC accuses Laos of violating the 1995 Mekong Agreement. This requires consultation of the other Mekong countries.

The construction of the Xayaburi (by a Thai contractor) has already started, with the Don Sahong starting next month. According to biologists, this is at the expense of one of the most important habitats for fish migration.

Prime Minister Yingluck went into her weekly program yesterday Yingluck Government Meets the People on the matter, but what she said is – as usual – so meaningless that I can't even quote it.

Political news

– Worachai Hema's amnesty proposal, amended by a parliamentary committee, received a cool reception from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD, red shirts). The authorities, responsible for the deaths and injuries in 2010, would also receive an amnesty and the red shirts do not accept that. Barbertje must hang, and those are in particular former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (currently leader of the opposition) and former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban.

UDD chair Tida Thawornseth says the movement is sticking to the original proposal, which excludes the authorities (and Thaksin and the protest leaders) from amnesty. But she's still holding back. The top of the UDD has yet to study the details of the amended proposal. The UDD is also curious about the reactions of the supporters. The final verdict will be handed down in a few days.

Pheu Thai MP Worachai says he will ask parliament to stick to his version when the bill goes to second reading. Prime Minister Yingluck wisely keeps quiet and says the changes are a matter for the committee.

Suriyasai Katasila, coordinator of the Green Group, a group of political activists, is not surprised by the changes, because they confirm what was already suspected: the amnesty proposal aims at former Prime Minister Thaksin, who has fled a prison sentence of 2 years, to rehabilitate. In addition, the amended proposal offers him the chance to reclaim the 46 billion baht seized from him. Numerous other corruption cases against him, which are still on the shelf, could also go into the trash.

Today, some civilian groups are putting their heads together to determine their strategy. "We can't let the law pass, because that would kill the rule of law," says Suriyasai.

Economic news

– Governor Prasarn Traoratvotakul of the Bank of Thailand leaves no doubt that a sovereign fund, which aims to make money from the bank's foreign reserves, will not be established anytime soon. There is a lack of 'tools' to manage the risks. "There is currently no initiative to set up any kind of fund."

Earlier, deputy governor Pongpen Ruengvirayudh, in charge of monetary stability, announced that the bank is studying a plan to transfer the surplus of foreign reserves into a fund that will be called the 'New Opportunity Fund'. With the extra income, the bank can boost its balance sheet. The institution of such a fund has been arguing for years between the bank and the government.

As of October 11, foreign reserves amounted to US$171,6 billion (5,3 trillion baht) and the net forward position [?] $21,6 billion. Household debts have fallen slightly in recent months, but Prasarn says they still need to be watched closely. The decrease is due to the ending of some government incentives, such as the tax refund for first car buyers. In addition, consumers are more aware of their debt burden and spend less money. Household debt is currently 8,97 trillion baht or 77,5 percent of gross domestic product.

– Factories on the Eastern Seabord are not affected by the flooding in eastern Thailand; the floods have also not affected investment in the area, said Anchalee Chavanich, president of the Thai Industrial Estate and Strategic Partner Association. Across the country, investment remains strong, despite a short-term decline in exports.

However, Anchalee has to admit that Thailand is lagging behind in infrastructure development, but that can be solved with the government's trillion-dollar plan.

David Nardone, president of Hemaraj Land and Development Plc, Thailand's largest developer of industrial estates, expects water-affected businesses to bounce back as quickly as they did after the 2011 floods. Industrial estates in the Eastern Seaboard have remained largely dry, by the way. Hemaraj operates six industrial estates and four logistics parks. The seventh industrial estate will open in Si Racha at the end of this year. The company signals a small increase in customers from India and China.

In Prachin Buri, 14 companies have had to stop their activities because of the flooding. Seven SMEs and ten community enterprises [?] have water damage. Those numbers will rise slightly, expects Atchaka Sibunruang, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Industry and secretary general of the Department of Industrial Promotion. 'These companies were hit quite hard because the water level rose rapidly. They were unable to take preventive measures, so there is damage to machinery, raw materials and inventory.'

– Small and medium-sized businesses that have suffered water damage can get a loan guarantee from the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG). The TCG has earmarked an amount of 10 billion baht for this. The government will pay 1,75 percent of the annual amount due for three years and the TCG raises its 18 percent limit to 30 percent of defaults. Since its inception 22 years ago, the TCG has provided 306 billion baht in collateral for loans. The current guarantees amount to 220 billion baht.

– The banks – again, I must write – are doing well. In the third quarter, seven listed banks posted a net profit of 41,17 billion baht, an increase of 20 percent compared to the same quarter in 2012. Siam Commercial Bank posted the highest profit, with TMB Bank leading in terms of growth rate. The good results are due to the increase in the number of loans and higher income from tariffs.

– Pattaya looks set to become Thailand's Saint Tropez, as boat sellers predict that the number of yachts visiting Thailand will increase by 2016 percent to 30 by 2.100. Every year, 110 luxury and super yachts call at Thailand. And they find a good maritime infrastructure in Pattaya, according to Wilaiwan Thawitsri, deputy governor for tourism products and companies of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. According to her, Pattaya is a top tourist destination for recreational boating, mainly due to the Ocean Marina Yacht Club.

The three-day Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show 2013 starts there on Tuesday. More than a hundred exhibitors will be there.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post