News from Thailand – December 3, 2012

News out Thailand

The Thai 'winter' has started and that means that the bird flu can rear its head again.

The Livestock Development Department (LDD) has asked farmers to be alert to unusual chicken deaths. It would be even better not to let the chickens roam freely, but to limit their radius of action to a fenced area. That reduces the risk of infection. LDD officials are monitoring the border region to prevent chickens from being smuggled into the country.

The most recent case of bird flu in humans dates from July 2006. Between 2004 and 2006, bird flu was diagnosed in 27 people, 17 of whom died.

“We have strict preventive measures against the disease. If it breaks out again, we are confident that we can contain it," said LDD chief Tritsadee Chaosuancharoen. The European Union apparently also has confidence in it, because in July of this year the ban on the import of unprocessed Thai chickens was lifted. So far, no case of bird flu has been reported.

– For the first time, Great Britain has extradited a suspect to Thailand. A Briton (29) has arrived in Phuket, suspected of the murder of a former US marine. The Brit had fled to England in 2010, where he was arrested at Heathrow Airport.

The two men had an argument in a bar in Phuket. The Briton, a semi-professional kickboxer, stabbed the American to death after being beaten by him. Thailand has been trying for 2 years to get the man extradited.

– It has been raining for days in the southern provinces of Phatthalung, Satun and Songkhla, so residents have been warned about flooding and landslides. The warning is especially true for people who live near rivers and mountains. The Meteorological Department predicts that it will continue to rain for at least another seven days.

In Phatthalung flowed yesterday due to the heavy stir different villages below. The water reached heights ranging from 30 to 50 centimeters. Elsewhere, villages were flooded by streams from the Banthad mountains. Many houses, rice fields and rubber plantations were damaged. Villages in Satun also suffer from flooding. In Songkhla, Songkhla Rajabhat University will close its doors for two days as a precaution.

– Today will be an exciting day for everyone who can't wait for Thailand to finally get 3G. The Administrative Court will rule whether the October 16 auction lacked 'free and fair competition', a requirement of the constitution. The National Ombudsman has asked the court to do so.

The Department of Special Investigation and a committee have already looked into the matter and found that the three bidders, AIS, Dtac and True Move, had not engaged in collusion to obtain the 3G licenses at a reduced price.

The Confederation of Consumer Organizations is today asking the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the allegation of collusion. 'We have evidence that the auction's problems are the result of the auction conditions. They do not promote competition and ignore the interests of the state," said chairman Boonyuen Siritham. Nevertheless, the consumer association will respect the judge's decision.

The Administrative Court can do three things: not deal with the Ombudsman's petition, after which he can go to the Supreme Administrative Court, or whether or not to prohibit the granting of the 3G licences. When a new auction should be held, it would cause a delay of five to six months, estimates Thakorn Tanthasit, secretary of the NBTC, the organization that grants the permits.

– The king wants the people who come to greet him on his birthday to come closer to the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall when he appears on the balcony at half past ten on December 5 and gives a speech. He has therefore instructed the royal guard not to position themselves on the Royal Plaza, but on the grounds of the palace. This reduces the distance between the monarch and the population.

One battalion of the 29th Cavalry Squadron, King's Guards, is stationed outside the palace grounds, the other 11 battalions are stationed within the palace grounds. The 2.126 soldiers take an oath of loyalty to the king there.

– Real estate companies, hotels, rice mills and agricultural companies suspected of having ownership in violation of the Foreign Business Act can expect scrutiny from the Department of Commerce. According to that law, 51 percent of the shares must be owned by a Thai.

Particularly in tourist destinations such as Chon Buri, Pattaya, Samui and Phuket, this would be handled 'creatively'. In fact, the companies are entirely foreign owned. Violation of the law carries a fine of 500.000 to 1 million baht.

– The head of the Tambon Administration Organization (TAO) of tambon Bang Po (Narathiwat) was shot dead last night when he returned from a TAO election. While driving his car back home, he was fired upon from a pickup truck with an M16 rifle. He later died in hospital.

A defense volunteer was shot at by a group of insurgents on his way back from his rubber plantation in Sai Buri (Pattani). The man worked as an informant for the authorities. Further details are missing.

– Yesterday the Asean-India Car Rally 2012 started in Phra Nakhon (Bangkok). Thirty-one Mahindra XUV500 vehicles, produced in India, ride in a motorcade commemorating 20 years of relations between India and Asean. First they drove to Cambodia. The rally will last until December 20. The message does not state which countries the column will visit.

– The police in Phuket are looking for a 35-year-old Hungarian suspected of murdering his compatriot and business partner. The man's body, which was placed in a plastic bag, was found on Friday in a rubber plantation in Kathu, Phuket.

– The charred, partially decomposing body of a 15-year-old girl was found yesterday in a forest near Ban Nako (Kalasin). The girl had been dead for 20 days. The police found traces of a struggle near and on the body. An initial investigation revealed that she was the victim of a gang rape. The girl's father had reported her missing to the police. She left the family home on November 5 to go to the market.

– Pichai Pokpong, head of the Thai Mai Ruak (Phetchaburi) police station, has been transferred; he becomes head of a police station in Ratchaburi. That wouldn't normally be worth mentioning, but Pichai is leading the research in the Dr. Death case, the police doctor suspected of the deaths of two of his employees and possibly also a couple, who have disappeared without a trace. Three skeletons have been excavated in his orchard. Pichai says his transfer has nothing to do with his role in the investigation.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post