News from Thailand – July 27, 2013

Half the front page of Bangkok Post today is dedicated to the birthday of former Prime Minister Thaksin. He is celebrating in Hong Kong in the company of a hundred MPs and ministers who will arrive today on a Bangkok Airways charter flight.

In Thailand, the birthday of the ever-popular former prime minister did not go unnoticed either. Hundreds of fans gathered at Wat Kaew Fah in Nonthaburi (pictured). In a three-minute phone-in from Beijing yesterday, Thaksin thanked his supporters and appealed to the Thai people to end all divisions. He said happiness (happiness, joy) and reconciliation and called national reconciliation a top priority. A video posted online by his son contains similar words.

Thaksin turned 64 yesterday. He fled Thailand in 2008 shortly before being sentenced to 2 years in prison for abuse of power. Since then he has lived in Dubai, where he receives regular visits from friends and supporters.

– The Sadao district is not covered by the ceasefire that Thailand and resistance group BRN have agreed for Ramadan. BRN agrees with the change, BRN representative Hassan Tahib told Paradorn Pattanatabut, secretary general of the National Security Council. Paradorn flew to Malaysia on Thursday to meet him.

The inclusion of Sadao in Thailand had been objected to by army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha and authorities and residents of Sadao, because this district has not been affected by bomb and assassination attacks for years. There was therefore no need to apply the ceasefire to this district, which borders Kelantan in Malaysia.

An army source believes that BRN initially included the district in the agreement because it belonged to the Pattani state in the past. But according to the source, this is a misconception. That state included the provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala and, in Songkhla, the districts of Chana, Thepha, Saba Yoi and Na Thawi.

Paradorn was already in Thailand yesterday. He told a seminar that 20 attacks have taken place since the beginning of Ramadan. The BRN (Barusi Revolusi Nasional), with which Thailand has held peace talks since late February, has confirmed responsibility for six attacks and the deaths of two schoolteachers.

Authorities yesterday found 25 fake bombs in Rueso district (Narathiwat) and seven districts in Yala. Texts were written on banners and on road surfaces demanding the departure of the army from the South.

In Si Sakhon (Narathiwat), two people were seriously injured when they were shot at yesterday. Further details are missing. In Sai Buri (Pattani), eleven motorcycles parked in front of the Sai Buri hospital went up in flames.

– The heavy rainfall in the provinces of Chanthaburi, Trat and Nakhon Ratchasima this week is not a precursor to flooding, comparable to that of 2011. The Royal Irrigation Department reassures the population and points out that the 33 major water reservoirs in the country are 46 percent full stand with water, so there is still sufficient storage capacity.

In Chiang Mai, the reservoir behind the Mae Ngad Sombonchon dam contains 19 percent water, in Lampang the Kew Lom reservoir contains 48 percent. More figures: Bhumibol dam (Tak): 31 percent, reservoirs in the Northeast: 50 percent, Huay Laung dam (Udon Thani): 26 percent, Nam Un dam (Sakon Nakhon) 41 percent, Lam Pao dam (Kalasin): 15 percent and the Lam Ta Klong dam (Nakhon Ratchasima): 25 percent. The reservoirs in the provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat are full.

According to the Meteorological Department, rain fell 23 percent less than normal in the month of May. June saw slightly above average rainfall, particularly in the center of the country and the eastern and southern provinces. In the North, rainfall was 28 percent less than average. So far this year, 2 percent more rain has fallen than average.

– The government's plan to transfer the management of the Chiang Mai Zoo to the Pinkanakorn Development Agency is meeting resistance from the Thai Wildlife Protection Network. Secretary-General Nikom Putta says the new agency, set up to develop the city of Chiang Mai and improve living conditions, has a commercial objective. A zoo, on the other hand, has the primary objective of protecting animals and not making a profit.

'We can expect the same fiasco as with the Chiang Mai Night Safari', thinks Nikom when management is transferred. “More animals will be brought from abroad, which means more hunting for the wildlife trade. Moreover, I do not believe that the agency has sufficient capacity to take care of the animals.'

Nikom advocates that the government first ask the opinion of the population to find out whether it agrees with the transfer of management.

– Both the government and the rival Stop Global Warming Association have appealed the Administrative Court's verdict in the water management case. The court ordered the government to hold public hearings before the waterworks begin.

The environmental group is appealing because the court did not honor its demand to suspend or cancel all projects until the required procedures have been followed: environmental impact assessments in addition to hearings.

Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi has said the hearings could be completed within three months. The environmental group now fears they are more of a public relations stunt than actual hearings.

Although the government is complying with the demand for hearings, it is still appealing the verdict. Deputy Minister Phongthep Theokanchana, chair of a committee studying the verdict, said the government will object to any point discussed in the case. "The government will continue with the projects not covered by the verdict."

An amount of 350 billion baht has been allocated for the waterworks. The companies that will carry them out have already been selected. The works include the construction of water reservoirs and waterways.

– Prime Minister Yingluck leaves tomorrow for the African continent to visit Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda. She is going to sign seven agreements. Yingluck travels in the company of sixty business people from the energy, food, construction and tourism sectors.

According to Narong Sasithorn, director general of the South Asia, Middle East and Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Africa offers great opportunities for Thai investors. In Mozambique, Yingluck is launching a volunteer program similar to the American Peace Corps. Thailand will send volunteers to African countries for assistance in agriculture, energy, health, education and tourism.

– Of course they wash their hands in innocence, the chairman of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative and his buddies, who have been accused of embezzling 12 billion baht. Yesterday they had to show up at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). The DSI will call representatives of 27 companies that have requested loans of up to 12 billion baht from the cooperative. According to the chairman, he does not own those companies, as the accusation goes.

– The parents and brother of ex-monk Wirapol Sukphol have been ordered by the DSI to provide DNA to see if the brother (who claims so) is the father of the now 11-year-old boy, whose mother is 14- age is pregnant by Wirapol. They and witnesses have stated this. The parents previously refused to provide DNA.

– Only five rice exporters will participate next week in the auction of 350.000 tons of rice from government stocks. Why there are so few, the newspaper does not write. The newspaper also does not write how old the rice is. Earlier, the newspaper reported that the bidders cannot inspect the auctioned rice. Six auctions were held last year, three of which failed because exporters offered too low prices.

– Tomorrow Liverpool will play a friendly match against a Thai team at the Rajamangala National Stadium on the Ramkhamhaeng Road. The police expect traffic congestion because 50.000 visitors are expected. Normally there is already a lot of traffic on Ramkhamhaeng Road on weekends. The match starts at 17.40 pm.

– A 23-year-old student shot a transvestite with his pen gun on Thursday evening. The student drove the victim home on his motorcycle, where the transvestite allegedly tried to kiss him and touch his penis. And the student was not served by that. Earlier that evening, the student had visited a pub with friends where the transvestite was. She and her friends were drunk and had already made advances.

– The police arrested 400 foreign workers in Pathum Thani yesterday, who work in a factory of seaweed and snacks. They were apprehended as they arrived at the company in staff buses. The police suspected them of entering the country illegally. A representative later came to the police station and said they have the required documents. The police are still checking it. The factory is now shut down.

Political news

– News from the amnesty front. Did it previously appear that Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema's controversial amnesty proposal will be the first to be dealt with when parliament returns from recess next month; now the newspaper has doubts about this because parliamentary chairman Somsak Kiatsuranong has not yet put the proposal on the agenda. He would be afraid that the proposal will irritate opponents.

Senate President Nikom Waiyarachpanich wants to be the first to discuss the proposal to end the appointment of half of the Senate. The split into elected and appointed senators was made after the military coup. To be clear: on August 6 and 7, the House of Representatives and Senate will meet together.

A total of six amnesty proposals have been submitted, which differ in scope. With one more people get amnesty than with the other. A hot topic is the role of the authorities, who gave the army permission to fire live ammunition in 2010, and the role of the red shirt leaders, who called for resistance and in a few cases for arson.

The Senate president does not think that the discussion of the amnesty proposal in or outside parliament will lead to violence. Those who are concerned can rest easy as the proposal will be dealt with in three terms and a parliamentary committee will also consider it. The committee can change the proposal so that all parties agree, he says.

Parliament will be busy next month, because in addition to the amnesty proposal, the 2014 budget and the loan of 2 trillion baht for infrastructure works will also be discussed.

Finally, some figures about the red shirt disturbances in 2010 in Bangkok. More than 1.800 people have been charged with wrongdoing. Of these, 1.644 have been tried and 5 people have been imprisoned. The 150 remaining cases are still pending, 137 have been released on bail, 13 have been refused. Hundreds of arrest warrants have also been issued in Mukdahan, Ubon Ratchatani and Chiang Mai provinces.

Those acquitted remain vulnerable as the prosecution has appealed in many cases. These include armed robbery, terrorism and the possession of prohibited weapons. (Data taken from the "108 Reasons to Pardon Political Prisoners" seminar held yesterday.)

Economic news

– The government has spent at least 700 billion baht on agricultural subsidies since it took office two years ago. Rice is the largest consumer, followed by tapioca and rubber. The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, which pre-finances the rice mortgage system, has already paid out 650 billion baht to farmers.

The government has only repaid 120 billion baht to the bank and aims to repay another 220 billion baht this year. But then she has to succeed in selling rice to other governments. The target for this year is 8,5 million tons, but so far only a deal with Iran has been announced for 250.000 tons. According to Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongpaisan (Trade), Iran needs another 1 million tons in the next two years.

– Corruption is on the rise in Thailand, find 74 percent of respondents in a poll by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC). In December, 63 percent held that view. Most respondents point to the mortgage system for rice; it offers the most opportunities for corruption.

The increased corruption has been attributed to loopholes, a lack of political transparency and no serious enforcement of the law after irregularities have been identified. Corruption takes the form of bribes, tea money, presents, rewards, political favoritism and nepotism.

Of respondents, 79 percent believe they can no longer accept government corruption even when their policies broadly benefit society. About 16 percent find corruption acceptable when it benefits people and improves the quality of life.

The UTCC has calculated that corruption will cost the country 236 to 383 billion baht this year in relation to the investment and spending budget of 2,4 trillion baht. These amounts are based on claims from companies that they have to pay 25 to 30 percent of a project's value in bribes to win it. The value of corruption this year is estimated at 1,8 percent of gross domestic product. That is more than Thailand spends on research and development.

– Chairman Virabongsa Ramangkura of the Bank of Thailand believes that the government should hurry with the bill to borrow 2 trillion baht for infrastructure works and with the public hearings for the water management projects, for which 350 billion baht has been earmarked. The government's current policies, he says, are not delivering enough results to allow the economy to grow.

Virabongsa expects the economy to slow down in the second half of the year because major infrastructure investments will not be made until the next fiscal year. The fiscal year in Thailand runs from October 1 to October 1.

Minister Kittiratt Na-ranong (Finance) is more optimistic. He recently said that stimulus measures are not needed in the short term as infrastructure works will bolster the economy later this year. But that must be wishful thinking, because parliamentary consideration is taking a long time and opposition party Democrats intend to start impeachment proceedings because of the water projects.

– The debt service ratio of 52 percent for people earning less than 10.000 baht per month is well above the acceptable level of 28 to 30 percent, the Economic Intelligence Center of the Siam Commercial Bank notes. The debt service ratio is the ratio of debt to income. In 2009, the ratio in this income category was 46 percent. For people earning more than 10.000 baht, the ratio was 2011 percent in 25.

Thailand's household debt now amounts to 80 percent of gross domestic product, compared to 63 percent in 2010, 70 percent in 2011 and 77 percent in 2012. The 80 percent still excludes loans from loan sharks.

– Thailand's border provinces and the provinces along major roads and future economic corridors attract the interest of foreign investors. They buy land for trade and industrial expansion.

In the North, Mae Sot (Tak) and Chiang Khong (Chiang Rai) are popular. Hotels and condominiums are being developed in Mae Sot, along the border with Myanmar. The area will become even more interesting for investment because the cabinet has approved the development of 5.600 rai south of the Moei river to stimulate investment.

In Chiang Khong, the Chinese are buying land to establish wholesale centers and commercial buildings. This area is being developed as a special economic zone. A bridge across the Mekong will open in 2013-2014 and a port was completed at the end of last year to transport goods to China.

Phitsanulok can also look forward to Chinese interest. The province is strategically located between the western and northeastern economic corridors. A high-speed train will also stop there.

In the South, Sadao and Hat Yai are attracting interest from Myanmar investors. They want to build rubber processing factories there. In Ranong, land is being bought by Thai, Myanmarese and other investors to build fish processing factories. The products go to China and Myanmar.

– State oil company PTT Plc has developed a device that can reduce diesel consumption by 30 to 50 percent and reduce exhaust emissions. The device can also be used in vehicles that run on natural gas.

The device with the long name of 'dual fuel premixed charge compression ignition' is sold by Sammitr Green Power Co, which was also involved in the development of the device. Most 2,5 and 3 liter pickup trucks can be fitted with it. In the future, it may also be installed in large diesel engines and buses.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post