News from Thailand – November 25, 2013

floods, run off from forests and a stormy wind have wreaked havoc in Nakhon Si Thammarat province since Friday.

Two people have died and 760 villages with 40.000 households have been affected. 21 of the 23 districts have been declared a disaster area. Two districts seem to escape: Tham Phannara and Khanom. The authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

In the five worst affected districts, 400 bridges were damaged by flooding. Authorities have provided 55 flat-bottomed boats, 120 2-person plastic boats, 11 fiberglass boats, 10 inflatable rafts and rescue ropes. 40 water pumps and 22 trucks, as well as 200 officials, have also been sent to the area.

The water in rivers and canals has risen and this will not end yet, because the heavy rains will continue for one more day, the governor said. He warns residents in low-lying areas and people who live near canals and mountains to pay close attention.

Ten tourists were locked up in a holiday park in Thaha on Saturday evening in the Lan Saka district. They were evacuated yesterday. The navy evacuated 157 tourists from Racha Yai Island in Phuket. They were with the HTTPS Sri Racha brought to the mainland (photo).

Several neighborhoods in Muang (Prachuap Khiri Khan) were flooded yesterday. The water came from the Tanao Sri mountain range. The Makhamfai district was hit for the seventh time in three months. The water reached a height of 50 to 70 cm.

In Trang province, some low-lying neighborhoods on the east side of Muang district were flooded.

The Meteorological Department reports that the low pressure area responsible for all the misery has moved to the Andaman Sea. So the worst is over, although it will still rain here and there. The low pressure area has developed into a tropical depression. A tropical cyclone is expected. Small boats had better not sail out in the coming days, is the motto.

– Rally leader Suthep Thaugsuban is waging a psychological war against the Yingluck government. He and his associates have slandered the government. They are trying by all means to bring down the government.

Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's personal lawyer, launches a frontal attack on the man who is in charge of the Democrats on Ratchadamnoen. He points out that initially there were demonstrations against the amnesty proposal, but the aim of action has now shifted to driving out the government, although the proposal has been withdrawn.

“If politicians want the mandate to run the country, they have to stand for election. It is wrong when those rejected by the majority of voters try to overthrow the government elected by the people. The vicious circle of political battles must stop. Politicians must let democracy follow its course,' said Noppadon.

– The Ministry of Defense warns against manipulated information, which can be regarded as lèse-majesté and is intended to provoke violence. Spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng says the ministry has intelligence that some groups of people are after it.

According to him, the purpose of that information is to create misunderstandings and sow hatred in the population in order to protect the nation and the monarchy. The information comes in the form of manipulated videos, which are distributed via social media.

An army spokesman denies rumors that troops are being stationed in Bangkok. “Police are dealing with the demonstrations as instructed by the Capo [Centre for the Administration of Peac and Order]. The military is irrelevant. The army doesn't take sides either.'

– Thai students studying at Oxford University refuse to attend a lunch meeting with Vice Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana on Saturday. In an open letter they write that they oppose his visit because of his support for the amnesty proposal. The students will not protest so as not to embarrass the Thai Embassy and the Oxford Thai Society.

– Twenty municipal schools in Phra Nakhon and Dusit (Bangkok) will be closed for two days for safety reasons. They are in or near the area occupied by demonstrators.

– Airline passengers traveling to Suvarnabhumi by car must take into account a travel time of three hours, because some major roads are closed. These closures in turn affect the traffic situation elsewhere in the city. Passengers are advised to take public transport. Presumably fewer taxis are also available.

– The cabinet meeting today will be held in Government House as usual despite the demonstrations in the area. Normally, the cabinet meets on Tuesday, but the meeting has been moved one day because Tuesday is the censor debate in parliament begins.

– The lookout on Pha Mo E-Daeng, a cliff opposite the Dangrek chain on which Hindu temple Preah Vihear stands, opens earlier and closes later to give visitors a look at the morning mist and sunset. Last week the cliff attracted five hundred visitors; Saturday was a top day with 1.500 visitors.

Economic news

– Thailand threatens to become a 'failed state' as a result of a weak government, conflicts between the House of Representatives and the judiciary and political demonstrations. Former Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said this yesterday at the annual meeting of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, which was held in Trang this year. “The situation has become fragile. The government will have to deal with it carefully to prevent the country from collapsing.'

In the economic field, Somkid notes that the country's four economic engines seem to be developing problems simultaneously. Those four are exports, domestic spending, investment and government spending. All four are slowing down, which means that economic growth will probably not even reach 3 percent this year. When the economy recovers next year, it will be thanks to exports, says Somkid. "I don't see how the government can strengthen the rest."

Somkid called on the business community to formulate economic policy objectives together with the government in order to maintain the economy. “It is a turning point that the country must pass in order to survive. Without reforms, the national debt will hit the ceiling and national development will be hindered.'

Speakers' opinions differed on whether dissolution of the House of Representatives would resolve the conflicts. Chairman Isara Vongkusolkit: The economic mechanisms will then be disrupted. Vice Chairman Boonchai Chokewatana: Dissolution offers an easy way out when the government proves unable to operate effectively. The president of the Federation of Thai Industries called the current situation 'quite risky'. He said that many people business people are afraid of possible collisions.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post

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