News from Thailand – March 21, 2014
A fisherman in Phanat Nikhom (Chon Buri) was surprised yesterday when he hauled in his net. The fish pond of 20 by 10 meters was found to contain not only fish, but also ammunition. So the police were alerted, who fished 6 K33 mortars, 81 K28 mortars, a rifle, 61 AK bullets and a magazine with AK bullets in wooden boxes from the 50 meter deep pond.
Judging by the condition they were in, police believe they were dumped in the pond a month or two ago, possibly by an arms dealer who was deterred by a police checkpoint when he wanted to deliver the items. Police are investigating the source and are considering the possibility that the ammunition belonged to anti-government protesters. The mortars bore registration codes in Thai characters, indicating they were made in Thailand. They were in usable condition.
– The help of the Air Force has been called in to extinguish the fire at the landfill in Samut Prakan. Toxic fumes and thick smoke were also released yesterday. The Air Force made four sorties and crashed 12.000 liters of water onto the smoldering gunk, which caught fire on Sunday. Earlier, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment deployed two helicopters. But they could only drown 1 rai per flight. The dump measures 70 rai. The Air Force will continue until there is no longer a flame to be seen.
Twenty rai was still on fire yesterday and spreading smoke. Pairin Limcharoen, head of the provincial office of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department expects all misery to come to an end this week. Although there are still thick clouds of smoke around the landfill, the concentration of hazardous substances has decreased.
Nevertheless, the Pollution Control Department warns that people living within 500 meters of the landfill run a high risk of health problems.
The Industrial Works Department has summoned the operator [earlier reports speak of two operators] for questioning because he does not have an operating permit. In 2011 he was licensed for one bio fertilizer factory on landfill, but it expired at the end of 2012. If the operator does not show up within 30 days, the IWD will apply for an arrest warrant against him. [In another report it is reported that the land is owned by a local businesswoman, who has the dump operated by her son.]
According to the Ministry of Health, 833 people experience health problems, in particular, they suffer from irritated eyes. They were examined and treated at the Samut Prakan hospital. A 1-year-old girl was admitted to hospital with a lung infection. Yesterday, 50 people visited a mobile clinic, which was stationed at the Phraeksa town hall. A second stood at the temple of Phraeksa.
Residents hope that the fire is now finally a reason for the authorities to do something about the landfill, which has been bothering them for years because of the stench. Fires also break out every now and then, but those were small fires that could be extinguished quickly. Many businesses in the area have closed their doors due to the current smoke nuisance.
– Two men have been sentenced to death and life imprisonment respectively by the provincial court of Samut Sakhon. The court found it proven that they ordered the 2011 murder of an activist who led the protest against coal shipments in the province. Thongnak Sawekchianda was shot dead in front of his home in Muang on July 28 of that year.
One of the two convicts was a coal transporter at the time of the murder. The other man's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment because he had provided useful information during the trial. Five other suspects, including the shooter, were sentenced to life in prison.
– Residents of Songkhla did not get their way. The Supreme Administrative Court has upheld the National Environment Board's approval for the construction of a gas pipeline between Malaysia and Thailand. That approval was granted in 2004, even though the environmental impact assessment of the project developer had been rejected, reason for the residents to go to court. Because no objection was lodged against that report within 45 days, the court could do nothing but honor the NEB's decision.
– The 'popcorn gunman', who was involved in the firefight around Laksi district office on February 1, says he received his gun (which he had wrapped a corn sack around, hence his nickname) from a PDRC guard.
The man was shown to the press yesterday. Vivat Yodprasit (24) said he was paid 300 baht a day for security work on Chaeng Watthana Road. He said he fired twenty shots. A few days after the gunfight, he went into hiding in Surat Thani.
Vivat has a criminal record. An arrest warrant has already been issued against him for a drug case. Police are looking for three others who were involved in the fight between anti-government protesters and government supporters. The demonstrators blocked the office, which was also the polling station, where ballot boxes and ballot papers were stored.
– Those who smuggled the 220 Muslim refugees, arrested on March 12 in a rubber plantation in Songkhla, into the country come into the picture. The police were able to identify the suspects on the basis of the vehicles used for transport. And that's all the newspaper reports about it.
– The bodies of two men and two women were found by the police in a building in Bang Ban (Ayutthaya) on Wednesday. They were lying face down on and near a mattress and must have been killed on Tuesday night. All four, a couple and two others, had been shot once in the back of the head at close range. The police suspect that it was a business conflict or an argument over drugs. The 'gangland-style' [?] murders have attracted a lot of attention.
– Hong Kong has relaxed its travel warning for Thailand. Bangkok and other major cities can be visited again provided visitors exercise extreme caution when visiting.
– Of all provinces, most rapes took place in Bangkok last year. Most of the victims were pupils and students, according to the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation, which bases this conclusion on reports in five daily newspapers.
The foundation counted 169 cases of sexual assault, of which 223 people were victims. Bangkok accounted for 26,6 percent, followed by Chon Buri (11,8), Samut Prakan (8,3), Nonthaburi (5,9) and Pathum Thani (5,3). Most victims were pupils and students (59,2 pc), followed by children (6,6) and female workers (5,4).
Political news
– Even if the Constitutional Court declares the February 2 elections invalid today, that should not be a reason for opposition party Democrats to participate in the new elections, says party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalayasut.
The party demands that Prime Minister Yingluck, her government and governing party Pheu Thai recognize the Court's verdict. And it doesn't look like it, because three board members of Pheu Thai said earlier this week that the Court is not competent to judge the validity of the elections.
According to Chavanond, his party is not worried about dissolution if it boycotts the elections for a second time. The Democrats believe that reforms should take place before the polls are held. Hastily calling new elections is unacceptable to the majority of the population and the Democrats, said Chavanond.
Prime Minister's Secretary General Suranand Vejjajiva has challenged the Democrats to return to the election race. He accuses the opposition party of being responsible for the current political misery.
Electoral Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn expects the political deadlock to continue regardless of the Court's ruling. When the Court rules against the election, the UDD (red shirts) opposes it. The protest movement continues to push for pre-election reforms. It is generally expected that the Court will declare the elections invalid and that may explain why the newspaper does not write anything about a possible recognition of the elections. Another minus point Bangkok Post.
Economic news
– The farmers who have been waiting months for their money for the rice they have handed in can expect even more misery. The rice with a moisture content of 25 percent that they grow in the second harvest will yield a maximum of 5.000 baht per ton. They can forget about the guaranteed price of 15.000 baht per ton because the mortgage system for the second crop has not yet been activated and the current outgoing government is not allowed to do so.
The 5.000 baht is mentioned by Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association. He has a less than optimistic message. Because the government hastened to sell the rice from its two-year stock, so that the farmers can finally be paid, the price is falling. And in May, winter-spring harvest from Vietnam comes to the export market. Buyers are currently holding their purse strings because they expect the price to fall further.
On Wednesday, the government tried to sell another 244.000 tons through the Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand (AFET). There were only seven interested parties, up from 34 last time. The government wants to sell 1 million tons of rice through AFET and raise 18 billion baht. So far, only 389.000 tons have been sold for 4,8 billion baht.
According to a source, the government also sells through a "secret channel" to certain exporters. They would only have to pay 9,6 baht per kilo, much less than the current market price of 12 to 13 baht. The price on the AFET averages 11,5 baht per kilo.
– The excise duty on petrol is unnecessarily high; the government should bring the price structure of fuel prices into line with production costs. This is advocated by economists from the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida).
Professor Thiraphong Vikitset points out that petrol in Thailand costs 45,75 baht per liter compared to 18,63 baht in Malaysia. And yet the production costs in both countries do not differ that much: 25,1 and 23,92 baht respectively. The difference in retail price is due to the excise duty. This is 20,64 baht per liter in Thailand against 5,29 baht in Malaysia.
The excise duty is used, among other things, to subsidize E85, a mix of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Thiraphong believes that the subsidy of 11,4 baht per liter should be derived from the environmental pollution caused by E85.
Assistant Professor Rachain Chintayarangsan questions whether the pricing structure is an example of favoritism, as some business groups may benefit from the subsidy on E85.
Diesel is also cheaper at 29,99 baht per liter than in other countries. Thailand ranks 76th out of 86 countries by diesel price. On average, diesel costs 50 baht per liter. Only 0,5 satang per liter is levied on diesel in Thailand.
Like E85, butane gas for domestic use is subsidized. The money comes from the State Oil Fund, a fund originally set up to stabilize fuel prices.
www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post
Editorial notice
Bangkok Shutdown and the elections in images and sound:
www.thailandblog.nl/nieuws/videos-bangkok-shutdown-en-de-keuzeen/
I just saw and heard (13.00:2) on the Thai news that the February 6 elections have been declared null and void by the Constitutional Court by 3 votes in favor and XNUMX votes against. In the current political discourse, such a voting ratio is called 'the tyranny of the majority'. Somchai of the Electoral Council was interviewed and said new elections were 'difficult' in the current political climate. Somchai and the Electoral Council should be charged with dereliction of duty. I fear that democracy is being destroyed in Thailand. That hurts me. What else is there to say?
Thanks for the update Tony! I don't know what to think about it. In fact, a government that has the support of a large part of the people should take office as soon as possible, but on the other hand the elections did not go entirely smoothly. That can also be blamed on both parties, but in particular that weird guy Suthep. I'll be happy once the Shinwatras and weirdos like Suthep have disappeared from the scene, but then I'll need some patience I'm afraid...
Rob V
Countdown to the Civil War, RIP for Democracy, those are two comments from many on FB pages. I won't repeat what was said about the judges of the Constitutional Court…..fortunately I know a lot of Thai swear words…..
Only elections in the short term, say two months, can bring results. But the Democrats have already indicated that they will not participate. They are all behind Suthep, just look at the names.
Countdown for reform, the birth of a true democracy without money-grabbing, corrupt elites of any color.
No elections as long as the process behind the elections perpetuates the culture of grabbing. We have all seen and experienced this in Thailand in 2006. Elections also declared invalid. There's nothing new under the sun. So if one does the same as in 2006, the continuation is also the same as in 2006.
Tell me, dear Chris, what reforms did Abhisit and Suthep do when they were in power from 2008 to 2011? That's not so long ago.
Money, Religion and Politics are things that make many people in the world unhappy.
If everyone starts to realize that, there will be no hate.
In addition: The Constitutional Court relies on the Royal Decree in which the House of Representatives was dissolved and elections were announced on February 2. However, elections were not held on that day in 28 constituencies in the South because the registration of district candidates was prevented by anti-government protesters. The law prescribes that elections must be held on one day. The Court therefore ruled that the elections were against the law. According to a statement from the Court today.
The Constitution prescribes that the elections must take place on the same day. But the Electoral Act of 2008 says in sections 108 and 109 that if there are irregularities in a constituency, the Electoral Council can and must call new elections. There should be such a rule because in EVERY election there are red cards and other reasons to declare the elections invalid in a constituency. That is the case every time in 5-10 constituencies. In the past, new elections were simply held there. If the Constitutional Court is right then every election is invalid and every election must be declared invalid.
http://thailaws.com/law/t_laws/tlaw0344.pdf
best tin
This concerns irregularities in and around polling stations, transporting groups of voters to the polling station, buying votes in one way or another WHILE the elections take place on the same day and everywhere. That is not the case now, in 2014. If the irregularities are proven, the elections in that district will have to be held again, and the perpetrators will receive a yellow or a red card.
The worst part is that everyone saw the disturbances (NOT the irregularities) coming, the government was warned and advised to postpone the elections (and not throw away 4 billion Baht; the rice farmers could have used it) but still they kept their footing piece because of the rules in the law while people regularly wanted to break the law in the months before. Talk about opportunism, arrogance and lust for power.
The red shirts are pushing, once they get enough people behind them, to advance to Bangkok early next month and drive Suthep and his supporters out of Bangkok and I think that could very easily turn into fighting and a civil war is therefore not far off I'm afraid. The misery is probably far from over and I hope that it will not come to a confrontation between those 2 groups and that everything will proceed peacefully.
Of course nothing happens at all because Jatuporn has promised that everything will happen 'without violence'. And we believe that Jatuporn, don't we?
I think he has to be careful that the rice farmers don't drop him like a stone. Only 5.000 Baht left for the next crop of rice; that is not even enough to cover the costs…..And they still owe quite a bit of money…..
The army of the Roman Empire also perished due to the lack of payment of wages…..
Unfortunately, not much will change, there is no democracy. Just the word democracy.
Rijk wants to keep the money with him and it will stay that way . Let's just hope that there is no war and that the baht goes to 50… The Thais just get on with life, let's do the same.
Dear Hans,
There are two other arguments to contradict the judgment of the Constitutional Court.
1 the Constitution says that a (1) date must be set for the elections, but not that they must actually be held on that day. A small difference.
2 As you know, early voting is always possible in Thailand, a few weeks before the actual elections, Thais living abroad can also vote. That is between 1-2 million voters. That is not allowed according to this judgment.