Govt To Ask 33 Banks For Rice Money Loans

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27 January 2014, 20:15

Farmers protesting in Buriram province, 26 January 2014

(27 January) The government will seek loans from 33 commercial banks in Thailand to pay debt incurred by the rice-pledging scheme, Finance Minister said.

Mr. Kittirat Na Ranong hopes the government will be able to raise 130 billion baht to pay rice farmers who participated in the controversial programme.

The money is expected to be given to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-Operatives (BAAC), the sole representative responsible for the payment, within this week to clear off debts the government owed to the farmers, Mr. Kittirat said.

According to Mr. Kittirat, the loan from commercial banks should allow the government to process the payment as soon as possible, which is a better option than releasing government bonds.

The Ministry will choose to borrow from the banks who offers the lowest interest rates, he said.

However, he admitted that there are some difficulties for the plan, as anti-government protesters have previously marched to Krung Thai Bank and the Government Savings Bank and demanded that the two banks refuse to lend money to the government, citing possible corruption.

Other banks are also skeptical whether the loan will be ruled illegal by the Constitutional Court later on, Mr. Kittirat noted, since the eligibility of the scheme has been extensively questioned by anti-government critics.

“We must admit that many commercial banks are worried about their image if they decided to lend the government some money for the scheme”, the Finance Minister complained.

However, Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) Advisor, Mr. Suwit Rojanavanich, remains positive about the plan, stating that many banks would be happy to lend the government the funds, and that they are only concerned by the security and interests from the loan.

According to Mr. Suwit, lending the budget to BAAC, which is guaranteed by the Ministry of Finance, is "100% safe" and will allow the banks to secure their large sum of returns rather than looking for small borrowers.

Meanwhile, protests by farmers who demand rice money they had been promised under the programme continued in various rice-growing provinces, such as Kampangpetch, Buriram and Ang thong.

In Kampangpetch, farmers from 11 districts submitted their documents to Mr. Adul Jankamjadphai, president of the provincial lawyer council, expressing their wish to sue the government, BAAC and other related authorities for failing to make the payment as promised.

In Buriram province, farmers in Lamplaimas district gathered yesterday in front of a polling station for advance voting and demanded that the voting be canceled.

The demonstrators also demanded the government to use the election budget to pay the farmers who mortgaged their rice under the scheme. Reportedly, over 50,000 farmers in the province are waiting for the money – a total of more than 4 billion baht.

In Ang Thong province, many farmers joined People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King as Head of State (PCAD) protesters in the occupation of in-bound Asian Highway in Mueang district to demand the payment from the government.

Ang Thong governor, Mr. Pawin Chamniprasat, negotiated with the demonstrators and promised to urge the government to pay the farmers by 31 January. Satisfied by the promise, demonstrators then agreed to disband but threatened that if the government fails to keep their promise, they will protest again on 1 February.

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Ratchaburi PCAD Leader's Residence Attacked

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27 January 2014, 19:20

(27 January) An anti-government protest leader in Ratchaburi province claimed that his political view has led to a shooting on his house earlier today.

Mr. Yutthaphon Pathomsatit, 50, a local core leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King as Head of State (PCAD), reported to the police that his house came under gunfire attack at approximately 02.45 am on Monday.

He told the police that he heard a sound similar to giant firecrackers in the middle of the night, before he noticed that his metal fence and mirror glazed window had been damaged by gunshots.

Police officers led by Pol.Lt. Sukri Praduka, from Mueang Ratchaburi Police, later investigated the residence, which is also operated as a hardware store, and found two cartridges of 9mm handgun.

Witnesses said they had seen a car parked in front of the residence before a number of of gunshots were fired. The car then sped away from the scene.

Mr. Yutthapon said he believes that he was targeted because of his political activities. He has previously led anti-government protesters to close down several government institutions, and actively protested against the government’s plan to use Mae Klong River as a floodway.

The PCAD activist insisted that he had never engaged in any dispute with anyone, as he believes it could damage his business. However, he believes that some local residents might disagree with his political perspectives.

“As we are all Thai people. We should debate about the views," Mr. Yutthapon said, "If we disagree, we should both carry on living our lives separately and should not turn violent against each other”.

He added, “The incident did not scare me or my family, as we have come beyond that fear. I am determined to move on as a leader and call for a reform before the election takes place".

The incident is the latest act of violence committed by unidentified assailants on anti-government figures. In recent weeks, PCAD supporters and leaders have been targeted by grenade attacks, shootings, and other forms of intimidation.

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New Case Of Pattaya Jet Ski Scam Reported

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27 January 2014, 18:05

(27 January) Five Russian tourists have filed a complaint to Pattaya police that they had been fleeced by the notorious jet ski scam.

One of the Russians told the police they rented 5 jet skis on the beach on Saturday, but when they returned the vehicles, the jet ski operators forced the tourists to pay a large sum of money for "maintenance" fee, claiming that the vehicles had been damaged.

The tourists tried to negotiate for a lower fee, but the jet ski owners later summoned two "uniformed officials" to pressure the the tourists to pay the money, threatening them jail sentence if they refused to make the payment, according to the victims.

The tourists reportedly paid a total cash of 113,000 baht as they feared they would be prosecuted. They also claimed that after the payment was made, the jet ski owner tore apart the photo of the damaged jet ski which was taken before the vehicle was returned.

However, a Thai woman, who is described as a friend of the tourists, later learned of the incident and took them to see the police in Pattaya.

Pol.Lt. Phitak Noensaeng told our correspondent that the police have investigated and identified the uniformed officials who threatened the tourists as two officials who worked for Pattaya Municipality Office.

Police said they will summon the jet ski owners and the officials for further interrogation.

If they are proven to have scammed the tourists, the suspects will be prosecuted by the laws in order to protect Pattaya′s reputation as a tourist destination for foreigners, said Pol.Lt. Phitak.

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'Reckless' Driver Slams Into Cyclists, Kills One

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27 January 2014, 17:07

(27 January) A cyclist has been killed and three others severely injured by a driver who reportedly raced with another car on the highway in Kanchanaburi province.

The incident took place at a roadside in Tamaka district, where one cyclist was found dead at the scene, while three other cyclists laid on the ground with their injuries. The police also found a pick-up truck which has smashed into the wall of a nearby factory 200 metres away.

The truck driver was not present at the crime scene, police said.

The deceased was later identified as Mr. Phonsak Sawaengwutthipan, 51, a resident of Pra Samut Chedi district, Samut Prakarn province. He is also a deputy president of a runner and cyclist club which regularly organises charity events, police said

Initial post-mortem investigation revealed Mr. Phonsak suffered broken neck, arms and legs. His body was also nearly torn apart by the impact of the car crash.

Prior to the incident, Mr. Phonsak and 1,000 other athletes have joined a triathlon ′mini marathon′ organised by Kasetsart University. The competitors were set to cycle, run, and walk from the university′s Kampangsaen Campus to Tamaka district before returning to the university, in a total distance of 57 kilometres.

Witnesses told police that as the convoy of athletes was cycling along the road, two pick-up trucks recklessly raced each other and approached the convoy. A 10-wheel truck suddenly appeared on the other lane, witnesses said, causing one of the pick-up truck to divert quickly, but the driver reportedly lost control and hit into the group of cyclists, before crashed into a factory.

The driver fled the scene amid the confusion, police said.

It is suspected that the pick-up truck driver works for a TV satellite company after police found satellite installation equipment inside the truck. The police vowed to locate and apprehend the suspect as soon as possible.

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Dialogue To Reopen Chaeng Wattana Road Begins

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27 January 2014, 15:29

(27 January) The negotiation between governmental officials and anti-government leaders to re-open the Government Complex has begun.

Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) has previously vowed to reclaim Chaeng Wattana Road and reopen state agencies in the area which have been closed down by anti-government protesters for weeks.

Led by activist monk Luang Phu Buddha Issara, the group is allied to People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), which threatens to occupy key roads and intersections across Bangkok until Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resigns.

The negotiation took place in a military base, and was attended by Buddha Issara and governmental officials whose offices are currently closed down by the protesters. Members of the press were allowed to observe the dialogue.

Mr. Thongchai Chasawad, Director of the Department of Consular Affairs, began the dialogue by telling Buddha Issara that the shutdown of the Department′s headquarters has forced the officials to greatly decrease the number of passports issued for Thai citizens, from 6,500 booklets per day to 2,500 booklets per day,

Officials are also struggling with "tens of thousands" of backlog cases, Mr. Thongchai said, such as inspection of foreign individuals who wish to participate in businesses in Thailand.

Mr. Thongchai then assured the monk that the Department will not interfere with the protesters in any way once it is allowed to reopen its headquarters.

Later, Mr. Tawatchai Thaikiao, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, informed Buddha Issara that the Ministry has been likewise severely affected by the protests.

According to Mr. Tawatchai, the Ministry has been unable to carry out numerous tasks related to court orders, such as probation and other legal execution operations, since the shutdown began.

A representative from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also told the monk that officials cannot follow up on complaints of illegal deforestation or regulate emissions as long as the Ministry remains closed down.

Replying to the officials, Luang Phu Buddha Issara claimed that these problems would not escalate much as the protests would only last "less than 2 weeks from now".

"The world won′t be warmer in that period," the monk said, "The protesters neither released emission into the air, nor cut down any forest".

He insisted that the protesters are doing their best to keep Chaeng Wattana Road open for 24 hours, but admitted that due to "security concerns" the protesters have to regularly set up roadblocks.

As the negotiation reached this point, Luang Phu Buddha Issara suddenly noticed the presence of Lt. Sunisa Lertpakawat, a spokeswoman of CMPO, and asked her why she was included in the negotiation.

Lt. Sunisa replied that she was there to assist the press, but Buddha Issara demanded that she leave immediately, citing concerns that presence of representatives from any political agency would jeopardise the negotiation.

"It causes me to be suspicious," Luang Phu Buddha Issara explained.

The CMPO spokeswoman then bade farewell to the monk and immediately departed from the negotiation venue.

Officials described the dialogue as inconclusive at the moment, but Pol.Maj.Gen. Adul Naronssak, deputy commander of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police, said that he remains "hopeful" of the negotiation outcome.

"This negotiation was not conducted under the emergency decree," Pol.Maj.Gen. Adul said in a press conference, "It′s a dialogue by Thais people to start a discussion and jointly find a solution".

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Matichon Denies 'Hiding' Thaksin's Interview Text

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27 January 2014, 14:27

(27 January) Matichon Publishing has refuted the allegation that the company has withheld the publishing of interview records with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The allegation was put forth by Mr. Somkiat Onwimon, a senior media expert who recently joined the ranks of speakers at protests organised by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

During a speech criticising former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last night, Mr. Somkiat told the crowd that he intended to read to them his translation of a book called "Conversations With Thaksin", which was written by an American author, Tom Plate.

The book is described as a record of hours of interview the author conducted with the ousted leader of Thailand, which, according to Mr. Somkiat, contained "many issues that Mr. Thaksin has spoken that damage [or destroy] himself".

Mr. Somkiat then proceeded to allege that the book is not available in Thailand, because Matichon Publishing holds the publishing rights of the book yet refuses to translate and print the books for Thai audience, implying that Matichon has conspired with Mr. Thaksin to hide the damaging parts in the interviews.

However, a quick search on the internet would have informed Mr. Somkiat that Matichon has translated and published "Conversation With Thaksin", under the Thai name of ′Chab Kao Kui (Knee-Touching Talk) : Thaksin Shinawatra′, since 2012.

Matichon Publishing named Mr. Suranand Vejjajiva, who is currently serving as the Secretary-General to the Prime Minister Office, as the translator of the book.

Therefore, "Matichon Ltd and Matichon Publish would like to stress that [Mr. Somkiat′s] speech is completely false," the company said in a statement posted on its website.

The company also denied allegation that the book contained some of Mr. Thaksin′s remarks which could be deemed offensive to the monarchy.

Throughout the five sessions of conversation with Mr. Thaksin, each one lasting two hours, Mr. Thaksin has never defamed His Majesty the King in any way, the statement says, citing the author′s foreword in the book.

Matichon, the owner of Khaosod newspapers, has been regularly accused by anti-government critics of harbouring pro-Thaksin agendas.

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CMPO To 'Reclaim' Chaeng Wattana Road

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27 January 2014, 10:21

(27 January) Governmental officials have announced that they will persuade anti-government protesters to leave their rally site on Chaeng Wattana Road.

Supporters of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) have been camping around the Government Complex since evening of 12 January as part of their "Bangkok Shutdown" campaign.

Their numbers have been visibly dwindling in recent days.

Officials said the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) will spearhead a negotiation with the protesters in order to "reclaim" the area, and re-open state agencies in Government Complex currently shut down by the protesters.

Those closed down agencies include the Ministry of Justice, the Division of Special Investigation (DSI), the Department of Consular Affairs, and a number of state telecommunication offices.

It is unclear whether PCAD core leaders will agree to engage in the negotiation.

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EC Chairman Denies Conspiring With Protesters

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26 January 2014, 20:44

Pro-election rally in Ubon Ratchathani province, 26 January 2014

(26 January) Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) has denied the allegation that the EC is conspiring with anti-government protesters to derail 2 February election.

The EC has come under a barrage of criticism after its officials seemingly gave up organising advance voting sessions in many polling stations today almost as soon as anti-government protesters showed up to disrupt the election.

But EC Chaiman Supachai Somcharoen explained that the officials had been instructed to quickly abandon the polling centres in order to avoid violent confrontation.

He cited the clashes around Thai-Japan Stadium in Din Daeng district last month as an example, in which anti-government protesters repeatedly attempted to enter the stadium to disrupt the election registration held there, only to be driven back by riot police. One policeman and one anti-government protesters were shot dead in the clashes.

"We have instructed all officials to avoid confrontation," Mr. Supachai, "If they cannot proceed, they can cease the voting".

Mr. Supachai also claimed that EC officials had no choice but to cancel the voting session in the face of anti-government protesters who besieged their polling stations.

Governmental officials have previously threatened to take legal action against the EC for abandoning their duties, but Mr. Supachai downplayed those threats, stating that he is used to receiving all kind of accusation.

"I believe the court will listen to our reasons, because we have facts to confirm them," Mr. Supachai announced.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the public should file legal complaints against anti-government protesters who barred them from exercising their constitutional rights to vote.

The EC Chairman also stressed that the election should be postponed so that the ongoing political crisis can improve, and confirmed that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has agreed to meet with EC officials on 28 January to discuss poll deferment.

The Constitutional Court has previously ruled that the EC and the government have a joint authority to postpone the 2 February election, but governmental officials said the poll would go ahead as planned.

Mr. Supachai said such confidence might be misplaced, expressing his worry that the 2 February election might not be "transparent or clean as required by the laws". He also worried that the doomed election might end up wasting 1 billion baht of public fund in arrangement costs for nothing.

"Even if it′s clear that the election will take place on 2 February, the Parliament won′t be able to be assembled nevertheless, because the MPs would be less than 95%" of the available seats as required by the laws, Mr. Supachai warned.

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Somchai: Today's Violence Justifies Poll Postponement

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26 January 2014, 19:53

Police officers escort a woman away from a group of anti-government protesters at a polling station in Bueng Kum district, 26 January 2014

(26 January) The 2 February general election should be postponed due to the violence which accompanies today's advance voting, an Election Commissioner insisted.

Mr. Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, who oversees the arrangement of elections nationwide, also said he has already halted seminars and training session for over 1 million election staff because it would be a "waste of budget" since the election might not be held on 2 February anyway.

The Election Commissioner has previously echoed the demands of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) that the 2 February election be scrapped.

Hundreds of PCAD supporters today marched to various election stations in Bangkok and other provinces to disrupt the advance voting sessions. Many of the election venues were subsequently closed down by EC officials almost as soon as the protesters showed up; out of Bangkok′s 50 polling stations, more than 40 have been shut down.

The PCAD′s campaign to disrupt the election also comes at a cost. A core leader of PCAD was shot dead and many protesters injured during a clash with pro-government counter protesters during their attempt to close down a polling station in Bangkok′s Bang Na district.

The deadly violence only supported EC′s stance that the election should be postponed, according to Election Commissioner Somchai.

"What happened today shows that an election on 2 February will bear similar problems," Mr. Somchai said, "We are concerned about possible chaos and violence, which might result in deaths and injuries, like the incident at Sri Eiam Temple in Bang Na".

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Robbed Of Voting Rights, Citizens Turn To Police

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26 January 2014, 16:22

Citizens filing complaints against PCAD and EC at a police station in Bangkok's Bang Kapi district, 26 January 2014

(26 January) Members of the public who had been barred from entering election venues by anti-government protesters are filing legal complaints in droves.

Supporters of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) have blocked entrances to venues for advance voting in numerous districts of Bangkok and other provinces, as a part of their campaign to scrap the 2 February general election.

PCAD argues that Thailand needs "reforms" to eradicate the legacies of "Thaksin Regime" before any election can be held.

The Election Commission (EC) has subsequently cancelled the voting session in many constituencies as the result of the protesters′ campaign against the election.

Angered by PCAD and the EC, who has been accused of conspiring with anti-government protesters, many citizens in Bangkok have flooded local police stations to file legal complaints over the obstruction of their Constitutional rights to vote.

Attempts to disrupt an election is punishable by a maximum of 5 year jail sentence and a fine of 100,000 baht.

Minister of Interior Affairs, Mr. Jarupong Ruengsuwan, also urged citizens who were barred from participating in the advance session to take legal actions at their local police stations.

According to Mr. Jarupong, the Election Commission will be held responsible under the laws on charges of duty negligence if the officials refused to re-open the voting venue after anti-government protesters had left.

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