News from Thailand – December 21, 2013

Big money can be made next year with medical services and beauty treatments. Those two sectors are at the top of a list of ten so-called sunrise industries in a poll conducted by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce. And that would be the fourth consecutive year.

Private hospitals in particular see the cash register ringing again. Foreign patients love it for its quality and reasonable prices. See also the accompanying box, which also contains the sunset industries up.

– Intimidation: that is what the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (Seapa) calls the report that the navy has made against two journalists from the news website Phuketwan. The navy has been shot in the face because of a publication about its assistance in the human trafficking of Rohingya refugees. That publication is based on a research and article by Reuters. The article describes the role of authorities, not just the Navy, in handing over refugees to human traffickers.

The two journalists must appear in court on Tuesday. They are being prosecuted for violating the Computer Crimes Act. If found guilty, they could face up to 5 years in prison and/or be fined 100.000 baht.

Seapa says the Navy should conduct an internal investigation into the human trafficking allegations. “Tackling a small online news outlet for publishing what is essentially a humanitarian story is tantamount to bullying to silence critics,” said Seapa.

Human Rights Watch also urges the navy to withdraw the report. She fears it will have a paralyzing effect on investigative journalism in Thailand.

– The mass rally scheduled for tomorrow is a litmus test to see whether the support for protest movement PDRC is large enough to continue the protest against the so-called 'Thaksin regime'. The main goal is to get the residents of Bangkok who have stayed at home to the streets.

The rally should also have a psychological effect on the provincial divisions of the PDRC, said a source at the PDRC. A big show of power in Bangkok strengthens the confidence of the provincial departments. The newspaper does not report how many of those departments there are now.

The rally will run from 13 p.m. to 18 p.m. During that time, the city is 'locked'. There are five large stages and ten smaller ones. The big ones can be found at the Victory Monument, on Siam Square, Ratchaprasong intersection, in Lumpini park and Asok. The little ones are on Phetchaburi road, Sukhumvit road and Rama IV road.

'The plan is to cover the whole of Bangkok in one walking street to change," said Kwansuang Atibhodhi, the creator of the mass rally. It is clear that many rally participants are buying power, so there will be brisk trading. It's Sunday, so it will be bursting with activity.'

The Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand is not participating. It remains at its base at the Chamai Maruchate bridge near the Government House. Earlier there was talk of a women's demonstration in front of Prime Minister Yingluck's house, but this was no longer mentioned when the plans for tomorrow were announced.

Political observers suspect that protesters will block the Thai-Japan stadium to prevent election candidates from registering there from Monday.

– An estimated 800.00 baht in cash was given to action leader Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday during the march to and from Silom. Cash is now being given as the protest leaders' bank accounts and two accounts belonging to the PDRC have been frozen by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI, Thailand's FBI).

– A group of an estimated three hundred retired army and police officers will join the mass rally tomorrow. The group calls on the army command to support the population and to talk to the outgoing government about ending the conflict. “The military cannot be neutral in this crisis. It must side with what is right,” said former air force chief Kan Pimanthip. "The demonstrations of the people are rational and peaceful."

In a statement, the group says that the population wants national reforms ahead of the elections. Kan warns that the demonstrations could turn violent if the army does not support the population. "We are not calling for a military coup, but when people from both sides clash, the army cannot remain passive."

– The Japanese ambassador is deeply concerned about the political crisis. He warns that this will have consequences for the confidence of Japanese investors. Japan is the largest foreign investor in Thailand. The Japanese prime minister expressed his concern about the situation on Sunday.

In an interview with Bangkok Post says the ambassador that a peaceful settlement means 'no coup and no violence'. He does not comment on the elections: Japan considers that an internal matter.

In response to the concerns of some Western diplomats about a possible election boycott of the opposition party Democrats, the ambassador says: 'Then voters have no choice. As a major political party, the Democrats should decide for themselves what to do and not follow orders from the anti-government protesters. They can draw up plans for national reforms and ask voters for a decision. Then at least have swing voters a chance to choose.'

– Governing party Pheu Thai slashes the Electoral Council, which warned on Thursday that if the elections take place on February 2, this could lead to even more unrest. The Electoral Council advised the government and the protest movement (which wants nothing to do with elections without prior reforms) to seek a compromise.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit says that neither the constitution nor other laws allow for a delay. 'The Electoral Council should not bow to pressure from the demonstrators. She just has to get on with the election.'

According to Prompong, reforms can take place at the same time as the elections. This does not have to be done before the elections. 'It is about: what needs to be reformed and who decides on this? When the reforms are dictated by the PDRC, it leads to endless conflict.”

Red shirt leader and state secretary Nattawut Saikuar also denounces the Electoral Council's position. The Electoral Council's statement confuses people, he says. "It gives the demonstrators a cover to expand their movement." Nattawut does understand the concerns of the Electoral Council about possible unrest. He also thinks that the government and the protest movement should hold talks so that the elections go smoothly.

– Opposition party Bhumjaithai has invited all political parties and the Electoral Council for a meeting today in order to prevent a political crisis. According to a source, both ruling party Pheu Thai and opposition party Democrats have agreed to attend. Bhumjaithai also invited the PDRC.

Party leader Anuthin Charnvitakul believes that all political parties should find some form of agreement before taking part in the elections. Given the current conflict, the situation could become tense after the elections, he says. But Anuthin is not in favor of delay. If the political parties manage to reach an agreement before February 2 [the date of the elections], the elections need not be postponed. But when that fails, he has no problem with procrastination.

In any case, Bhumjaithai will participate in the elections. She will compete with 125 candidates on the national electoral list, but cannot provide district candidates in all districts. The party expects to retain its current number of 34 seats.

– Pheu Thai MPs from the Northeast have doubts about their participation in the elections. They are concerned about the party's preparations and the possibility that the elections will be cancelled.

Yesterday they met with Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal to choose the candidates for the Northeast. They fear that the elections will be disrupted by the incessant protests against the Yingluck government. They also point out that the Democrats are calling for a postponement and Bhumjaithai (the second opposition party) believes that the political parties should first reach an agreement. According to them, it is also worrying that Pheu Thai's election campaign is not yet on track. A budget has not yet been determined and election posters and pamphlets are not yet available.

– A train from Butterworth to Bangkok derailed yesterday at Khao Thamon (Phetchaburi) station when the dining car hit construction materials that had fallen on the rails. Vibrations caused by the approaching train caused the material to fall. Train traffic was halted. How long, the message does not say. There were no injuries.

– The president of Thai Airways International has packed his bags. He will leave on January 2. According to him due to health problems, but insiders know better: he was at odds with the board of directors and he was also under fire because of the poor business results.

– The Royal Thai Police has ordered all police stations to investigate missing children more quickly. According to the law, someone must be missing for at least 24 hours before the police have to take action. The instruction comes in response to the rape and murder of a 6-year-old girl in Bangkok earlier this month. The suspect, arrested on Sunday, has confessed to abducting, raping and killing numerous other children.

Economic news

– Optimism at the National Economic and Social Development Board about next year's economic growth. When the planned infrastructural works as well as the water management works get off the ground and export and tourism grow, a growth of 4 to 5 percent can be achieved. The NESDB expects that 160 billion baht will be spent on those works next year

The NESDB considers the infrastructure works as an important investment because they reduce logistics costs, stimulate private investment and strengthen competitiveness. In addition, the investments could bolster the country's long-term economic growth, Secretary-General Arkhom Ternpittayapaisith said.

– Foreign debt management companies are eyeing Thailand with greedy eyes because of rising household debt. Five companies have already settled in Thailand.

Bangkok Commercial Asset Management does not expect to be affected because it operates in a different market segment. The company mainly buys and manages corporate loans and not consumer loans. This year, BAM acquired mortgages and NPLs worth 11 billion baht from the Government Housing Bank. In 2014, it expects to take over for another 10 billion. BAM aims for a turnover of 17 billion baht.

– At the end of next year and mid-2015, Wang Hin and Lat Pla Klao (Lat Phrao) will be lifestyle mall open. The JAS Wang Hin occupies an area of ​​12 rai. It will have 5.000 square meters of retail floor space. The occupancy rate is already at 60 percent with Tops Market, Watsons, Starbucks and Zen Japanese Restaurant. JAS Lat Pla Khao will have 10.000 square meters of retail floor space. The shopping centers are being developed by JAS Asset, a subsidiary of Jaymart Plc. JAS Asset manages 42 shopping centers with 1.400 stores.

– Finally, the new fleet of thirteen wide-body jets from Thai Airways International (THAI) will have an internet connection. On Wednesday, the NBTC gave the green light. The devices are equipped with Type 1 wireless LAN that uses the 2,4 gighertz spectrum.

THAI first applied for a license for Wi-Fi and GSM 2011 in 1800. The NBTC has now granted a license for Wi-Fi, but the telewatchdog has yet to make a decision about mobile telephone traffic.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post