News from Thailand – December 4, 2014

An army commander's accusation that they were paid to make the banned three-finger gesture doesn't sit well with the students, as they went to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) yesterday to defend themselves and file a complaint.

The four students made the gesture last week during Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's visit to Khon Kaen. While he was speaking in front of the Provincial House, the students managed to avoid security and make the protest gesture with the cameras pointed at them (picture on the homepage).

The defense minister has toned down the commander's remarks. That information must be checked, he says. According to the commander, the students received 50.000 baht from local politicians, but he refused to substantiate that claim yesterday. It was based on 'preliminary information', which still had to be verified with other sources.

The four naughty guys are part of the Dao Din activist group, which will receive a human rights award for children and youth from the NHRC on 12 December. The group of mostly law students has existed for 10 years and helps residents whose rights are violated by development projects. The four say they have been scared since a stranger in an 'unusual' [?] car tried to photograph them as he passed the house where they live.

– Thailand has dropped from 102nd place to 85th place on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, which according to the paper indicates that the country has become less corrupt, but I think it could also mean that other countries have become more corrupt. The government wants the country to move to the group of 50 least corrupt countries within three years.

Singapore is the best of the Asean countries, as it is in seventh place. This is followed by Malaysia (50), Thailand and the Philippines (both 85), Indonesia (107), Vietnam (119), Laos (145), Cambodia and Myanmar (156).

The list has a total of 175 country names with Denmark in 1st place. The most corrupt are Somalia and North Korea. The list is drawn up on the basis of twelve studies by, among others, the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.

Of course the newspaper notes satisfied sounds. The government's anti-corruption policies and nationwide reforms contributed to the jump of 17 places, said National Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Panthep Klanarongran. "It's not an easy task for a country to get a better score like this."

– The public and media were kept out yesterday during a forum with foreign experts on reform. [Netherlands is not listed among the countries mentioned.] Nevertheless quotes Bangkok Post from the speeches, suggesting that a reporter from the newspaper hid somewhere under a table or some of the participants leaked to the newspaper. I will omit the quotes, because those are the well-known clichés about 'real democracy, good governance, accountability, legislation and respect for human rights'.

– The father and widow of sports shooter Jakkrit Panichpatikum, who was killed in October last year, both prey on his inheritance of 200 million baht. The judge must speak the redeeming word and he tried that yesterday in Prachuap Khiri Khan. They must manage the inheritance together, he said. According to the judge, the woman, although not married to Jakkrit, is also entitled to the inheritance, because they had a son and a daughter. But the father, who brought the case before him, immediately appealed against that Solomon's judgment, because he wants sole control of the inheritance.

Who ordered the murder has not yet been definitively determined. The woman's mother has taken the blame, but the widow is also suspected. The mother has stated that she wanted to protect her daughter because she was abused by Jakkrit. That criminal case is still pending.

– The well-known astrologer Khomsan Phanwichartkul will strengthen the team of government spokesmen in an attempt to help counter criticism of the junta on social media. He would be very well suited for the job, not because of his astrological prowess, but because of his ties to the regime, a government spokesman said.

Democrat Khomsan is a former municipal councilor for Bang Phlat District (Bangkok) and has close ties to NCPO member Prawit Wongsuwan. According to a source, he has already been consulted by the NCPO to look into his crystal ball. [In a manner of speaking, because astrologers don't work with a crystal ball.]

– CITES Secretary General John E Scanlon is pleased with Thailand's plan to end the trade in African ivory, but has yet to see evidence that the authorities are capable of carrying out the plan.

Scanlon is currently visiting Thailand. He has already spoken with the Secretary of Natural Resources and Environment and the Director General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. They informed him of Thailand's efforts. Today a meeting with the Royal Thai Police is scheduled.

CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Two years ago, Thailand was criticized by CITES for not doing anything about the illegal trade. In July, the executive board of CITES decides whether Thailand will be punished with trade sanctions on the flora and fauna market. The minister says that a complete stop to the ivory trade is not possible, but "all eighteen services involved are doing their best to limit the trade."

– Although peace talks with the southern resistance have not yet resumed, the army is now talking to groups that commit violence in the South. It follows the same policy as in 1980 when the communist resistance was put to an end. Insurgents who want to surrender will have a chance to reintegrate into society, says army commander Udomdej Sitabutr. [As far as I can remember, this was already the case under the Yingluck administration.]

Peace talks between Thailand and the southern resistance have been stalled since last year. There seems to be some progress in resumption after Prime Minister Prayut's recent visit to Malaysia, which acts as a facilitator of the talks.

– A former Pheu Thai member of parliament turns 30 months in jail. The court found him guilty of lèse majeste yesterday because of a speech he had given in May. According to the court, the speech had caused 'extensive damage'. Given his status as a former MP, he should have been more sensible and so the court did not make it a suspended sentence. The parliamentarian was arrested after the coup and has been in pretrial detention ever since. Bail was denied, as is usual for lèse-majesté.

– Everyone, regardless of their income, can use the free buses in Bangkok (recognizable by a blue strip above the entrance) and the free third-class train on some routes. And that's not fair to speak to Calimero. Or rather: to speak to the Minister of Transport, because he said so. He wants to limit free access to poor wretches, but he doesn't know how to recognize them either. He does think he knows that this can lead to a halving of costs.

Well, what do you do in such a case? You give a study assignment, then you are done with it. So the National Economic and Social Development Board is allowed to study the issue. He has one month to do so. The term of the scheme, which has already been extended numerous times, will expire at the end of January.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post

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