News from Thailand – December 7, 2013
The identity of the charred body, found in a burnt bus in Ramkhamhaeng, is indeed that of 19-year-old Suradet Khampaengjai, as his mother suspected. This has been proven by DNA research.
Suradet had gone to Ramkhamhaeng with friends on Saturday, where students and red shirts had clashed. They looted a bus, cut open the seats and one of them set the bus on fire. Suradet, who was on the top floor of the double-decker, was unable to flee, unlike the others, and perished in the flames.
Four people were killed in the fighting: a student from Ramkhamhaeng University and three red shirts. Fighting broke out on Saturday afternoon and lasted until Sunday morning as the UDD held a rally at the nearby Rajamangala stadium. It was canceled on Sunday.
– The municipal police of Bangkok is busy collecting evidence against supporters of action leader Suthep Thaugsuban to prosecute them for complicity in rebellion. Police are targeting individuals, media groups and funders of the rally.
First up is the leadership of Blue Sky, the TV channel of the opposition party Democrats. An arrest warrant has already been issued against Suthep for rebellion, an offense punishable by life imprisonment or death.
Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul warns the municipality of Bangkok that she could also be prosecuted for providing mobile toilets and drinking water. City council spokesman Wasan Meewong says this is standard procedure at any demonstration. He further points out that Suthep has not yet been found guilty, but is a suspect.
Blue Sky says its station has not broken any laws. It has only reported on the anti-government protests. To support this, the director has placed images of the reporting by foreign media on his Pagebook page. The director also asks for an investigation into disruptions of the TV signal.
– After four years of absence, the red shirt talk show TruthToday on the government TV channel 11 from today back. Red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan, Nattawut Saikuar (also secretary of state) and Veerakarn Musikhapong appear on the television every evening from half past nine to half past ten on weekdays to explain the truth in great detail.
The program was first broadcast in 2008 under the then Samak Sundaravej government and was taken off the air a year later when the current opposition leader Abhisit was in power.
– The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD, red shirts) will hold a large rally in Ayutthaya on Tuesday in support of the government and as a protest against the 'anarchist' protest movement (words of UDD chairman Tida Tawornseth). According to Tida, the protesters led by Suthep Thaugsuban have thrown the country into chaos by occupying government buildings and intimidating the media.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, red shirts gathered in front of the Provincial House yesterday. They carried signs of support for the Yingluck government. Anti-government protesters kept a safe distance at the Thao Suranaree monument.
In Udon Thani, the Khon Rak Udon club has not yet decided whether they will go to the rally in Aytutthaya, because their own rally is planned on that day.
– The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has appealed to the Supreme Court against the acquittal of eighteen suspects in the Klong Dan case. Those eighteen were already indicted by the PCD in 2005 for corruption in the acquisition of land and breach of contract in the construction of a sewage treatment plant (which is still not in use).
In 2009 they were sentenced to three years in prison, but the court acquitted them in November. One of them, a former politician, was sentenced to 2008 years in prison by the Political Office Holders Division of the Supreme Court in 10, after which he allegedly fled abroad.
The PCD thinks it will now succeed in putting the people behind bars, because new evidence is available. In addition, proceedings are pending before the Supreme Administrative Court, initiated by the project developer of the sewage treatment plant. This joint venture is demanding 9 billion baht from the PCD in compensation because the contract was abruptly broken. The Central Administrative Court previously ruled in favor of the company.
– The UN Refugee Agency is calling for an urgent investigation into allegations made in a Reuters report that Thai immigration officials are turning over Rohingya refugees to human traffickers. The article was published Thursday, following a two-month investigation.
The Rohingya are said to be taken to secret camps on the Malaysian border, where they are held hostage until the family pays a ransom. Some were also reportedly beaten and killed.
According to a police commander, it is unofficial policy to deport Rohingya to Myanmar. They are said to have signed statements agreeing to return to Myanmar.
– Both ruling party Pheu Thai and opposition party Democrats do not bring candidates into battle in the mid-term elections for the eight vacated parliamentary seats. They became available because the (Democratic) MPs gave up their seats in order to lead the anti-government demonstrations.
According to spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut (Democrats), the current political situation does not lend itself to the ballot box. At the moment, elections are not a solution to the country's problems, he says. The party is waiting for Prime Minister Yingluck to step down and dissolve the House of Representatives. Without these measures, the problems will continue to plague the country.
In the constituencies concerned, candidates from little-known small parties that had not previously been represented in parliament have applied. No one has applied in three districts. The Electoral Council will decide on Monday what to do. Elections will be held on December 22.
– Special forces of Thailand and China will hold military exercises in Lop Buri from Monday for two weeks. 2013 Chinese soldiers and three Chinese helicopters are taking part in 'Strike 135', as the exercises are called. Thailand is represented with 185 army officers and three helicopters.
The exercises consist of anti-terrorism operations, patrols, reconnaissance, parachute training and exercises with snipers. The exercise, code-named Strike, was first held in China in 2007. The Thai and Chinese navies are also going to practice together, but no date has yet been set.
– Praise for Prime Minister Yingluck yesterday from the US ambassador and the commander of the US Pacific Command, who visited her. They praised Yingluck for her patience with the anti-government protests and refraining from violence. Three foreign visits next week from Yingluck have been cancelled. She would visit Russia, Myanmar and Japan.
– Two members of a school futsal team and the driver were killed and seven injured when the pickup truck they were in crashed into a tree in Pichit and flipped over. According to the police, the driver lost control of the wheel in a square.
Economic news
– Project developer Hondofar Condotel is going to build a large floating market in Hat Yai. The project, 44 rai in size, consists of eighteen buildings, each built in a different architectural style such as Sino-Portuguese, southern Thai, Chinese and Japanese, and there will also be a mosque. There is room for 180 shops plus thirty traditional ones dinghy boats and kiosks. Part of the land is being developed for 144 commercial units and 30 rai is for car park. The opening is scheduled for Songkran next year.
www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post