Bi-weekly Thailand Review 15/01/2013 – 25/01/2013
Rohingya migrants who are being held at Thung Lung police station in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district. (Bangkok Post)
Summary
Abac poll has Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen leading in the election campaigns for Bangkok governor. Meanwhile, his rival Sukhumband stated, amongst other things, to improve the mass-transit systems in the city. Three army officers are under investigation for trafficking Rohingya refugees into the Kingdom of Thailand. Other important news of the recent two weeks was, that editor of ‘the Voice of Taksin’, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for lese majeste.
Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong discouraged any interventions by the Bank of Thailand to stem the baht’s appreciation, while Thai exports are adversely affected by the high baht. Furthermore, the Government plans to start Thai-EU bilateral free trade talks to boost Thai exports and trade as the expiry of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) in 2015 draws closer.
In the recent two weeks a large group of teenagers fought against each other at a charity concert, while almost day-to-day violence continues in the Deep South of Thailand and attackers seem to become more brutal, amongst others, shooting dead a 12-year-old and a teacher in front of his students.
Politics
With the election campaigns for Bangkok governor already in full swing the latest Abac poll has Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen leading ahead of the Democrat Party candidate MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra. Sukhumband shrugged off any projections as too early and was convinced voters would re-elect him. He was unimpressed by Pongsapat’s campaign slogan “working with the government seamlessly” arguing that voters would not like seamless work with the central government but prefer someone to look out for their local needs, adding, “If we want a ‘seamless’ governor, why waste money holding an election?” According to Abac Poll director Noppadon Kannika 80% of Bangkok voters would like to see dramatic changes and therefore Pongsapat would stand out as a “fresh” candidate. Although Sukhumband is liked because of his humbleness, the public perception is that he lacks outstanding accomplishments.
Sukhumband started his re-election bid on Yaowaraj road promising to make Bangkok’s Chinatown the best of Southeast Asia by standardizing the quality of food and encouraging restaurant and food stall owners to add English language menus. He continued his campaign a day later at the newly opened Pho Nimit BTS station stating that he would reduce fares for extended BTS routes from Bt15 to Bt10 and continue to build smaller mass-transit systems to link to the existing Skytrain and subway to reduce traffic in the city.
In his opening campaign statement Pongsapat, at a press conference with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, vowed to run a constructive campaign and felt confident of winning the election stating, “If we give the priority to the needs of the people, we will never lose. We will definitely win the election.” (Bangkok Post) (The Nation)
Three army officers are under investigation for trafficking Rohingya refugees into the Kingdom of Thailand after a BBC journalist brought the story to international attention. A recent influx of Rohingya refugees to the southern Ranong province has challenged the Thai government for a proper response. The Rohingya refugees were arrested for entering Thailand illegally and are taken care of on humanitarian grounds, PM Yingluck announced. UN representatives were already allowed to visit the detained Rohingya to determine their need to move to a third country. According to PM Yingluck no plans exist yet to deport the Rohingya back to Myanmar or send them to another country but a solution with the international community should be found as soon as possible.
A high-ranking police source announced that the investigation found that trafficking of Rohingya to Malaysia had been going on for several years and was under control of some military officers and involved local politicians. The trafficked Rohingya previously found work in Malaysia but due to an agreement with Bangladesh Malaysia is now hiring more Bangladeshi workers. Army commander in chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has confirmed the officers’ involvement and announced that if investigation confirms the allegations the officers would be prosecuted accordingly. Ranong resident have shown dismay over the influx of immigrants and will oppose all plans of setting up a refugee camp in the area. The group’s leader Sucheep Patthong stated that “Ranong is already suffering enough from some 100,000 immigrant workers living in the province. This has led to social, security and public health problems.” (Huffington Post) (The Nation) (Bangkok Post)
The United Nations, European Union and international organizations such as Reporters Without Borders, Freedom House, Amnesty International and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (Seapa) have criticized the latest decision by the Criminal Court, which sentenced the Voice of Taksin editor Somyot Prueksakasemsuk to 10 years imprisonment for lese majeste. The Court’s chief judge Thawee Prachuablarb defended the judgement announcing that the articles written by Somyot were “insulting in nature and caused damage to the King”. Thai Journalists Association president Chavarong Limpattamapanee voiced his understanding for the international reaction but reminded them that the Constitution ensures Thai people’s freedom of expression, but not without limit or exception. Chief judge Thawee meanwhile warned critics saying opinions had to be without bias or they could be prosecuted for contempt of court.
Red-shirt supporter Yossawaris Chuklom, known as Jeng Dokchik, was sentenced to two years for lese majeste last month. (Bangkok Post) (The Nation)
Economy
Although the baht reached its 17-month high this fortnight, Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong discouraged any interventions by the Bank of Thailand to stem the baht’s appreciation. Arguing that any measures going against the market would be unsustainable, he said Thailand would just have to accept that the exchange rate is dependent on the market. Meanwhile, Thai exports are adversely affected by the high baht that advanced 2.7 percent against the dollar in the last month (the highest of 25 emerging market currencies tracked by Bloomberg). Last year, Thai rice exports plunged to the lowest levels in 12 years, and December’s agglomerate exports were weaker than expected. Inflation also reached a 13-month high in December and despite Government subsidies food and fuel prices have risen during the past year. Consumer prices are up 3.63 per cent compared to the year before. Pledging-schemes have been blamed adding to the lacking competitiveness of Thai products. In further controversy, Buri Ram state officials have been accused of helping companies to fraud 212 million baht from the cassava pledging scheme. (www.bloomberg.com, Bangkok Post)
The Government plans to start Thai-EU bilateral free trade talks to boost Thai exports and trade as the expiry of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) in 2015 draws closer. GSPs allow exemptions for developing nations from the World Bank’s most favored nation principle (treat no WTO member worse than the most favored trading partner). The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) has also been discussed during the past fortnight as it is expected to involve an important change in the system for securities in Thailand. Currently, there are substantial restrictions on the use of foreign securities inside the country but this will have to be amended before entering the AEC in 2015. (Bangkok Post)
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted $2.45 million in aid for water and flood management projects as well as improvements in railroad accounting and financial management. $1.5 million will be devoted to the development of guidelines, checklists and information management systems for monitoring and evaluating the implementation and impact of flood management in Thailand. (The Nation)
Trang province has received 10 million baht from the Department of Fisheries and Department of Marine and Coastal Resources for the construction of artificial reefs in the Andaman Sea. Overfishing has damaged coral reefs outside of the coast and the construction of artificial reefs is an attempt to improve marine life populations. (Bangkok Post)
Last but not least, there is some interesting news from one of the many food micro-enterprises in Thailand: In Phitsanulok province, a couple has made fortune selling an unconventional product, namely grilled rats. During festivals, the rat-chef can earn up to 10,000 baht per day with locals typically buying 3-5 kilos of rodent meat. With meat that can be roasted, stewed and fried according to the stall’s supervisor, rat has become a popular product in the northern and central provinces. (Bangkok Post)
Security
On Monday night, 14 January two groups of rival teenagers clashed in a vocational students vs. Klong Toey youth fight, at a charity concert of famous Thai singer Ad Carabao and Sek Loso in the Thai Port Football Club Stadium. After gunshot or firecracker sounds made the crowd disperse, Carabao stopped his show, and even the playing of the Royal Anthem could not prevent the youth from fighting. It took 700 police officers to finally stop the riot. Over 50 teenagers were arrested. (The Nation, Bangkok Post)
In the night of 22 January, two German citizens were, probably accidently, shot and wounded by an Australian, in Patong Beach, Phuket Province. Investigators think that the Germans, who was shot first, was mistaken to be the rival of the Australian man, who probably wanted to hurt a Dane over a business dispute. CCTV footage is being observed and the Australian is in custody. (Bangkok Post)
In the case of the assassination of Songkhla municipality mayor Peera Tantiserani in November 2012, Provincial Administration Organisation president Uhtit Chuchuay was arrested on Tuesday, 22 January, and charged of being one of three suspected masterminds behind the deadly attack. There are also another seven suspected conspirators. The three suspected gunmen have been arrested before. (The Nation)
On Tuesday, 15 January, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said that the torching of nearly 80 CCTV cameras in seven districts of Yala on Sunday night, 13 January, was rather the result of a business conflict than connected to the South Thailand insurgency. Mr Chalerm stated that he received a report which gave the information that the torching was the work of people who lost in the bidding process of the installation of the cameras and therefore hired a group of teenagers to destroy the installed cameras. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said new cameras should be installed at different spots to avoid repeated destruction. (Bangkok Post)
Despite the confusion about the torched CCTV cameras South Thailand remains to be hit by frequent violence of insurgents. On 17 January, in Pattani’s tambon Khok Pho, a 78-year-old Muslim rubber grower was shot dead, when he was taking a ritual bath. Police reported the man had regularly told local youth not to take drugs. On the same day, also in Khok Pho district, three employees of a tambon administration organization (TAO), all belonging to a village defense unit, were wounded when their rubbish truck was attacked by two men, on a motorcycle, shooting with handguns. After being hit in the head and seriously wounded, the driver lost control and the truck rammed into a tree at a roadside ditch. Also on 17 January, in Narathiwat’s Rueso district, two men on a motorbike killed the driver of a pick-up truck which carried children to the local kindergarten. None of the children was hurt but they witness the whole incident. On Monday night, 21 January, in Pattani’s tambon Nong Chick, a 12-year-old boy was murdered and his step father severely injured by two men riding on a motorbike and shooting at their victims with a 9mm pistol. The attackers were caught on a CCTV camera; police have identified them and launched a manhunt for them. Moreover, Pattani’s Khok Pho district was hit again by attacks, when three paramilitary teacher escorts were wounded slightly by a roadside home-made bomb, on Tuesday, 22 January. On 23 January a teacher was killed by two shots in the head in front of his students in Narathiwat’s Bacho district. Four suspects have been identified and police is waiting for court approval for their arrest warrants. (Bangkok Post, The Nation)
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