News from Thailand – February 5
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has now proposed tapping the phones of prisoners suspected of continuing their drug trade from prison.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) thinks it's a good idea. In the past, the DSI only listened to telephones at the request of other government services. Now the DSI wants to take the initiative itself.
Fighting drug trafficking is one of the top priorities of the current Yingluck government. She wants to significantly reduce trade within a year. Critics fear a repeat of Thaksin's was on drugs in 2003 which cost 2819 lives.
– The owners of a clothing store in Nana (Bangkok) say they are threatened by a couple of miscreants because of a fight over the sidewalk in front of the store. Three years ago, that space was rented to a woman, but she now refuses to leave.
On Tuesday, the woman and two men dressed in black came by and earlier on January 4, seven men threatened the owners. One of them was a well-known gangster, who is known locally as Sua Dam (Black Tiger). In both cases, the police were called to help, but did not take any action. Go to court, was the order.
Although sidewalks are public spaces and trading is prohibited, Bangkok is teeming with street vendors. The shop owner usually rents out the space for his shop. City Inspectors, tesakij called, collect 500 baht per point of sale/month.
– No tourist flights over Hindu temple Preah Vihear. An informal request from Cambodian authorities has been rejected by the Second Army due to security concerns and because it would be flying through Thai airspace.
– The Supreme Court will decide on Tuesday whether the verdict of a lower court in the Lower Klity case will be upheld. The court ordered Lead Concentrates Co to pay 35,8 million baht to 151 Karen for water contamination and lead poisoning. The company must also remove any lead and lead-contaminated sediment in the creek.
– The government is completely ready; let the water come. Prime Minister Yingluck said in her weekly radio talk on Saturday that the flood prevention and water management plan is ready. This includes the construction of new dikes and the dredging of waterways; those jobs will be done before the start of the rainy season, she promised. Furthermore, new waterways are being dug to connect the rivers in 17 river basins.
– A woman didn't get very far with a pickup truck she stole from a showroom in Bang Phli. On the way she took a nap and that killed her. She had stolen the car while the buyer was praying at one josh house.
– Government party Pheu Thai has finalized a bill to amend article 291 of the constitution. This article determines how constitutional amendments are made. Pheu Thai wants to amend the 2007 constitution, which was drafted under military rule.
An assembly of 99 citizens (1 per province and 22 experts, to be elected by parliament) must prepare the changes. Before parliament considers them, they are put to the population in a referendum.
According to Pheu Thai, the current constitution undermines political parties. Procedures to create independent organizations and appoint their members would not be democratic.
– The relatives of the 108 fatal victims of the 2004 shooting in the Krue Se mosque, if it is up to Vice Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprasa, also 7,75 million baht per family; as much as the government has earmarked for the victims of political violence between 2005 and 2010. This also applies to the relatives of the four Muslims who were shot dead by rangers on Sunday evening, if it turns out that the rangers killed innocent people.
– To prevent Myanmar from closing trade border posts again, Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul (Foreign Affairs) is taking the opportunity to explain to the neighboring country during the Asian-India Dialogue in New Delhi why Thailand built a dam on the river Moei. The construction prompted Myanmar to keep the Mae Sot-Myawaddy border post closed from July to December in protest.
Thailand constructed the dam to prevent erosion caused by the river's flow being diverted; Myanmar believes that this means that the border should be renegotiated. After the reopening, the trade volume between the two countries increased from 2 to 2,4 billion baht per month. According to the minister, border trade will account for 100 billion baht per year in the future.
– The Pattaya authorities have presented an ambitious 10-year plan to turn the resort into a world-class 'greenovative tourism city'. The cost is 646,7 million baht. The plan includes 34 projects: 13 in the city and the rest in the surrounding area. The number of tourists is expected to double in the next 10 years. [Details about the plan are missing from the message.]
– According to an American report, Thailand is a source, destination and transit country for men, women and children who are victims of forced labor in the fish processing industry, fishing and household. To get rid of the so-called Tier 2 Watch List, the Labor Department will draw up a list of jobs that are considered too dangerous for children. The list is based on the Labor Protection Act 1998, Child Protection Act 2003, International Labor Organization Convention 182 and the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention 1999.
www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post