New Tax On Tutors, Medical Staff, Vendors Proposed

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24 December 2013, 15:55

(24 December) The Revenue Department is considering a new tax to be imposed on tutors, medical personnel, and flea market traders.

Mr. Suthichai Sangkhamanee, Director-General of the Revenue Department, which operates under the Ministry of Finance, said the tutors should pay corporate income tax, personal income tax, as well as value added tax, depending on the size of their businesses.

The decision should be finalised by the end of 2014, and the Department will adopt the measurement from the Ministry of Education as a guideline to assess the profitability of tutor schools, said Mr. Suthichai.

In 2010, Mr. Suthichai said, the Ministry of Finance has in fact considered a plan to gain more tax revenue from tutor establishments as proposed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). It was estimated that taxing these tutor schools could generate up to 4-5 billion baht annually, but the plan was never implemented, according to Mr. Suthichai.

"Our department can collect revenues from tutor schools, but we have been reluctant to do so, since we view them as educational institutions," said Mr. Suthichai, "However, many schools have been exploiting the exemption. Many of them simply play video records of big name tutors to the students from all over the country".

He added, "We need to reconsider the appropriateness and the quality of these classrooms,"

Mr. Suthichai told our correspondent that he had instructed the officials to curb on the tax evasions by self-employed workers, namely; medical personnel and doctors. He said the new income tax system, to be implemented before the end of this year, would contain gaps for these individuals to evade tax payment.

“We need to make sure medical personnel abide by law. The Department needs to evaluate their real income, using their contract with the hospitals and real working hours”, said Mr. Suthichai.

Insurance companies will also be assessed by the Department, as many insurance brokers are required to pay value added tax of their earnings if they made more than 1.8 million baht each year.

Therefore, many brokers took advantage of the unrestricted system to represent their family members to share the earnings and to avoid paying VAT, Mr. Suthichai alleged.

“We have allowed tax payers to use insurance for tax refund, so insurance company should squarely pay their taxes in real numbers”, he added.

Furthermore, the Revenue Department is currently studying the possibility to charge market stall owners effectively for their personal income tax, after they learned many traders make large sum of money from the flea markets and weekend markets, which is not registered to the department.

“It is difficult to charge stall owners taxes, as they come from other provinces other than Bangkok, which means the payment must be made in their hometown," Mr. Suthichai said, "We are currently studying the possibility to launch the new panel for tax payment for flea-market traders that are specifically divided from the current forms.”

He added that no legislation amendment would be necessary to impose these new taxes.

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Khaosod English's Note On Translation Of Anti-Govt Leadership Title "PCAD"

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Khaosod English

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24 December 2013, 14:45

Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As head of State (PCAD), 22 December 2013

The editorial team of Khaosod English has recently received a number of questions about its translation of the name of the the anti-government protest group.

The group, known in Thai as "คณะกรรมการประชาชนเพื่อการเปลี่ยนแปลงประเทศไทยให้เป็นประชาธิปไตยที่สมบูรณ์ อันมีพระมหากษัตริย์ทรงเป็นประมุข (กปปส)" has supplied English media with one version of its title: "The People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC)."

However, this official name is not an accurate translation of the group's name in Thai. As an independently-owned news agency, we believe that Khaosod English is under no obligation to adopt the name provided by the group's leadership.

Therefore, our editorial team has decided to translate the Thai name more accurately to: "The People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD)".

Our translation derives directly from the group's full name: คณะกรรมการ (Committee), ประชาชน (People), เพื่อการเปลี่ยนแปลงประเทศไทยให้เป็น (For Change Of Thailand Into – which we have shortened to 'for'), ประชาธิปไตยสมบูรณ์ (Absolute Democracy), อันมีพระมหากษัตริย์ทรงเป็นประมุข (With the King As Head of State).

Our readers may notice that two prominent aspects of the group's full name have been omitted from the official English translation: 'absolute democracy' and 'with the king as head of state'.

The incomplete translation is curious given that the notion of 'absolute democracy' (ประชาธิปไตยสมบูรณ์) is a cornerstone the group's platform and is mentioned on many occasions by the group's leaders. The PCAD leaders also often uses pro-monarchy rhetoric, which is reflected in the phrase 'With the King As Head of State' (อันมีพระมหากษัตริย์ทรงเป็นประมุข).

Our abbreviation also reflects the Thai abbreviation of the name: ก(รรมการ), ป(ระชาชน), ป(ระชาธิปไตย), ส(มบูรณ์), which corresponds to P(eople), C(ommittee), A(bsolute), D(emocracy) in English.

We hope this note helps clarify any confusion our translation might have caused.

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Car Crash Kills 3 Anti-Govt Protesters

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Khaosod English

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24 December 2013, 13:40

(24 December) A pick-up truck carrying anti-government protesters has crashed into a flyover bridge in Chumpon province, killing three.

The incident took place yesterday at 05.00, rescue workers said.

Police investigation suggests that a total of 9 people were on the vehicle when the accident took place, all of them anti-government protesters who were returning from the major rally organised by People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) in Bangkok to their home province in Surat Thani.

Two people died at the scene and another victim died at hospital, police said. Other passengers were reportedly severely injured.

Police believe the driver, Mr. Niphon (surname not immediately known), was exhausted by the political rally he attended throughout the day, and dozed off behind the wheel on the highway, causing the vehicle to smash into a pillar of a flyover bridge.

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Man Sleeps Outdoor, Dies Of ‘Cold Weather’

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Khaosod English

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24 December 2013, 13:07

Tourists enjoying cold weather in Fhang district, Chiang Mai province, 24 December 2013

SISAKET — A man in Si Saket province has died after spending a night outdoor in the cold weather, police said.

The body of Mr. Khunchai Wongsingha, 46, was found face-down on a roadside bamboo shack in Mueang district. Close to his body the police found a small bottle containing alcoholic beverage and a pile of vomit mixed with blood.

The police believed the Mr. Khunchai had been dead for 5 hours before he was found.

Ms. Prapaisi Thongmuang, 56, a resident who lived nearby, told police that Mr. Khunchai was drinking alcohol with her relatives near her house on the previous night. Ms. Prapaisi said her family later went to bed while Mr. Khunchai was drinking alone in the cold weather.

She said Mr. Khunchai had a chronic illness, and it was very cold last night, leading the police to believe the weather and the illness have contributed to his death.

A senior police officer said no sign of murder or fight was found at the crime scene, and the police are not treating the death as suspicious.

Temperature has taken a plunge in many parts of Thailand, especially in the mountainous northern region.

'6 Millions' Attended Anti-Govt Rally, Spokesman Insists

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Khaosod English

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24 December 2013, 12:04

Anti-government protesters occupying the Victory Monument on 22 December 2013

(24 December) Spokesman of the anti-government protests has insisted that at least six million demonstrators were present at the rally in Bangkok on 22 December.

Mr. Ekkanat Prompan, spokesman of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), said in a press conference yesterday that the state authorities such as the Royal Thai Police and the National Security Council continued to "distort" the number of "the Great Mass of the People".

According to the police, a total of approximately 120,000 people were at the rallies, which took place at many key districts of Bangkok such as Victory Monument, Siam, Asoke Intersection, and Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

The protesters were demanding the formation of an unelected ?People′s Assembly? to rule the country and bring out their desired "reforms".

Many foreign media agencies also place the number of 22 December demonstrators as "tens of thousands".

But Mr. Ekkanat told reporters that the PCAD has consulted Mr. Kwansuang Atibhodi, an expert in city planning and brother of a prominent anti-government critic, and reached the conclusion that 4.8 million people were present at the main stage on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, while another 1.2 million people were scattered throughout other rallies in Bangkok.

PCAD has previously claimed that millions of people attended their rallies in the past, and its supporters have criticised or even physically assaulted reporters who placed the number less than their projection.

According to official statistics, the total registered population of Bangkok stands at 6-8 million people.

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Bangkok Officials Ready To Fight New Year Fires

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Khaosod English

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23 December 2013, 20:01

Aftermath of the 2009 Santika nightclub fire

(23 December) Fearing the recurrence of the deadly 2009 New Year nightclub fire, officials will station 35 fire trucks across Bangkok during the New Year celebration to respond to any emergency.

Many of the firetrucks would be stationed close to crowded areas in Bangkok, such as the venue for countdown events at Siam Paragon and Central World shopping malls; dense residential areas; and nightclubs district, said Mr. Pichai Kriangwattanasiri, director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM)

“The climate is cold and dry at the moment,” Mr. Pichai told our correspondent, “It increases the risk of fire incidents”.

160 DDPM officials would be assigned to man the firetrucks, with the ratio of average 5 DDPM officials per firetrucks, to guarantee competent rescue operations, Mr. Pichai added.

The DDPM director also warned the tourists who plan to celebrate the arrival of year 2014 at nightclubs to stay vigilant of their surroundings.

“Visitors should see how many emergency fire exits there are, whether they are adequate,” Mr. Pichai said, “They should also see whether fire extinguishers are available”.

Furthermore, nightclub goers are advised to take careful notice of the buildings’ structure, such as the material of the wall and the density of the crowd inside the venues. Mr. Pichai said these efforts would help prevent the repetition of the blaze at Bangkok’s Zantika Club on the early hours of 1 January 2009 which killed at least 66 people.

The fire broke out when the performing musicians launched flares at the direction of the ceiling as part of the entertainment. The foam-plastered walls and ceilings were quickly engulfed in the blaze, court investigation found, and the fire exits could not accommodate the stampede of panicked survivors.

Mr. Pichai added that citizens can notify the DDPM of any emergency via the hotline 1555, which is operational 24 hours a day.

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Yingluck Returns As No. 1 Pheu Thai Party List

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Khaosod English

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23 December 2013, 19:31

Anti-government protesters camping outside the Thai-Japanese Stadium, 23 December 2013

(23 December) Pheu Thai Party has placed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as the prime candidate for their party list for the next general election.

Ms. Yingluck, who is currently serving as caretaker Prime Minister, has previously refused to confirm to the press whether she will run for Pheu Thai Party as she did in the 2011 election.

Anti-government protesters, led by People’s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), have rejected Ms. Yingluck call for the new poll, scheduled to be held on 2 February 2014. PCAD leaders have demanded that an unelected ‘People’s Assembly’ be established to “reform” Thai politics before any election is allowed to take place.

The call to boycott the 2014 election had been endorsed by the Democrat Party.

PCAD protesters have also been besieging the Thai-Japan Stadium in Bangkok, the designated venue for election registration, in order to prevent political parties from filing their application.

Some protesters also set up checkpoints around the venue and searched media vehicles.

Nevertheless, representatives of many parties, including Pheu Thai Party, and members of the press managed to slip inside the Stadium at around 03.00 when many protesters were sleeping. In a surreal scene, many candidates had to tread over the protesters’ bodies to enter the venue.

Pheu Thai Party, represented by Mr. Taweesak Anakphan and Mr. Ekthanat Intrrod, reportedly entered the building even before 03.00 and had successfully submitted their candidates’ information.

Top officials of Pheu Thai Party, such as Mr. Jarupong Ruangsuwan, the chairman of the party, Mr. Prompong Nopparit, Mr. Poomtham Vechyachai, and Mr. Sompong Amornwiwat were monitoring the situation near the registration venue.

They eventually decided to assign their representatives to process the application instead of entering the venue themselves after they learned about the difficulty in accessing the building.

Pheu Thai Party List is arranged as followed:

1. Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra

2. Mr. Somchai Wongsawat

3. Mr. Jarupong Ruangsuwan

4. Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul

5. Mr. Chaikasem Nitisiri

6. Mr. Chalerm Yubamrung

7. Mr. Sanoah Tianthong

8. Mr. Pracha Promnok

9. Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana

10. Mr. Plodprasop Suraswadi

11. Mr. Phokin Phalakul

12. Mr. Sompong Amornvivat

Further list of Pheu Thai Party’s candidates is not immediately available.

Other smaller political parties also filed their application for the election, such as Bhumjaithai Party, Chart Samakkee Party, Rak Thailand Party, Thai Maha Pattana Party, and Democratic Party (not to be confused with the Democrat Party, the main opposition party which boycotts the election).

Additionally, representatives of some political parties later filed complaints at Dindaeng Police Station that the protesters attempted to prevent them from entering the Thai-Japanese Stadium; obstructing or disrupting the election process is criminalised under the Thai laws.

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Singha Beer Family Scion 'To Change Surname'

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Khaosod English

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23 December 2013, 17:56

(23 December) The outspoken anti-government activist known for her familial ties to Singha Beer producers will reportedly change her surname to avoid further association with her family business.

In a letter sent to the press, Mr. Chutinant Bhirombhakdi said he regretted the remarks of his daughter, Ms. Chitpas Bhirombhakdi, who told a number of foreign media that she distrusts electoral politics because rural voters are uneducated about democracy.

"I am well aware that every Thai deserves equal rights and liberty," Mr. Chutinant said in the letter obtained by Khaosod, "[My daughter′s] remarks are inappropriate. Therefore, I, Mr. Chutinant Bhirombhakdi, father of Ms. Chitpas Bhirombhakdi, would like to express my sincere regret and apology".

He added that he has discussed with Ms. Chitpas about her political activities many times, but "different opinions remain".

"I and my wife, and Ms. Chitpas, have talked about this for a while now," and they agree that surname change would be the best solution, the letter concluded.

The letter was issued at a time when Boon Rawd Brewery, the producer of the renowned Singha Beer and family business of the Bhirombhakdis, risked becoming a target of boycott by many Redshirt supporters who view Ms. Chitpas' infamous remarks and her campaign to unseat Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as anti-democratic.

Beer Singha relies heavily on sales in the upcountry and rural provinces – the traditional base of support for the Redshirts.

Mr. Santi Bhirombhakdi, the patriarch of the Bhirombhakdis and executive director of Boon Rawd Brewery, has previously sent a letter to Mr. Chutinant, warning him that as a board member he will be held responsible for damages caused to the company by his daughter′s political actions.

In the letter, which was leaked to the media, Mr. Santi also expressed his anger that Ms. Chitpas had inevitably led the public to associate his company with the deeply polarising politics.

One high-ranking manager of the brewery told Khaosod that the letter penned by Mr. Santi was meant as a way to "teach" his family members and settle the dispute inside the family.

"Mr. Santi has never forbidden any political ideas. In fact, he gave his family full rights to express their beliefs because it is personal rights," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, "But they are not allowed to get the company involved".

Ms. Chitpas appeared to be undaunted by the controversy, however. On her Facebook account, Ms. Chitpas wrote that she will continue to fight for "the nation, the religion, and monarchy".

"Don't be afraid to fight for the right cause," Ms. Chitpas said.

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Many Reporters Targeted By Anti-Govt Protesters

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Khaosod English

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23 December 2013, 15:15

Anti-government protesters confronting riot police near the residence of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, 22 December 2013

(23 December) Representatives of press associates have expressed their disagreement over anti-government protesters? assaults on a number of reporters accused of giving ?pro-government? coverage.

The incidents occurred during the mass rally in Bangkok called by People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State as the bid to unseat Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from her caretaker position and replace her with an unelected ?People′s Assembly? to govern the country as a transitional government.

The protests paralysed parts of Bangkok as the demonstrators occupied key districts such as Victory Monument, Siam, and Asoke Intersection.

The protest leaders claimed over a million people attended the rallies, and some of the protesters were incensed at members of the press who reported a far lower figure.

One such journalist targeted by the protesters was Ms. Pengpan Laemluang, a Channel 9 (MCOT) reporter. She was speaking to the newsroom in a live coverage of the protests from her broadcast vehicle on Ratchadamnoen Avenue at around 16.00 when a group of anti-government protesters surrounded the vehicle, shouting and blowing their whistles at her.

The protesters accused Ms. Penpan of betraying the people by giving an inaccurate number of demonstrators – with one protester screaming that she is "Thaksin′s slave" – but Ms. Penpan, after finishing her broadcast, tried to tell the protesters that she did not mention any number.

Ms. Penpan′s words did not stop one protester from throwing a water bottle at her direction, and another man punched at her arm. The protesters also mobbed her, preventing her from leaving the protest site, while her assistant was likewise assaulted and MCOT broadcast vehicle vandalised.

Protest guards eventually escorted Ms. Penpan and her team away. Ms. Penpan later filed complaints at Dusit Police Station.

On the same day, a Channel 3 correspondent was also targeted by the protesters. The demonstrators heckled at Ms. Warunee Suesatsakulchai during her live coverage in front of Bangkok City Hall. Some protesters later tried to mob her, but her security team has prevented them from reaching Ms. Warunee.

"I will fucking punch you, no matter what gender you are!" one male protester shouted.

Although some speakers on the rally stage attempted to defuse the situation by telling the crowd not to attack the reporters, Mr. Satit Wongnongtoey, a PCAD activist and former Democrat MP, said on the stage that the protesters certainly exceeded 1.5 million – far more than the figure of 120,000 estimated by the police.

"This number is the truth!" Mr. Satit said, "It′s scientifically proven".

The protesters have previously claimed that the BBC put their attendance number at 5 million people, but BBC correspondent in Thailand, Mr. Jonathan Head, has said on his Twitter account that he never reported such number.

PCAD protesters have also assaulted a foreign photojournalist, Mr. Nick Nostitz, last month, after a PCAD leader accused him of being a ?Redshirt reporter?.

Concerned by the incidents, representatives of Thai Journalist Associations, Thai Broadcast Journalist Association, the Press Council of Thailand, and News Broadcasting Council of Thailand met with Mr. Ekkanat Prompan, the spokesman of PCAD, earlier today at Ratchadamnoen Avenue to discuss the matter.

The media representatives told Mr. Ekkanat that attacks on reporters are unacceptable, and Mr. Ekkanat agreed to appoint mutual coordinators who would bear the responsibility of defusing the tension if further confrontation takes place.

Mr. Ekkanat also proposed that broadcast vehicles of different agencies should be parked together in one spot for better security.

Meanwhile, PCAD secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters that he is upset by the reports of assaults on journalists, but said it is hard to prevent such incidents because protest volunteer guards are de-centralised and operated by different groups.

Mr. Suthep nevertheless promised to educate the protest guards to ensure a safe environment for journalists.

However, attacks or intimidation on reporters continue to occur today, with a group of protesters assaulting a Channel 7 reporter during the broadcast near Thai-Japan Dindaeng Stadium, the registration site for election candidates for 2 February 2014 poll.

When the Channel 7 news team aborted the broadcasting and started to pack up their equipment, several protesters seized the cables and told the news team that they were not allowed to leave until the protesters give them permission. The news crew eventually managed to leave the scene after some negotiation.

Speakers on the rally stage around the Stadium also criticised the media for providing "false" coverage of the protests, while scores of reporters were locked inside the Stadium for hours by protesters who were besieging the building to prevent political parties from filing their election bids.

Upset by constant verbal and physical intimidation from the protesters, many members of the press decided to withdraw from the rally later in the evening. No PCAD coordinator was visible throughout the confrontation, our correspondent added.

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Ramkhamhaeng Students Accused Of Killing Redshirt

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Khaosod English

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23 December 2013, 13:20

Mr. Teerapat Thongrit and Mr. Noppadol Kaewmecheen

(23 December) The police have arrested two students suspected of killing a Redshirt protester during the clashes between rival political groups in Bangkok last month.

Three pro-government Redshirts and one anti-government protester were killed by gunfire in the violence which erupted around Rajamangala Stadium, where the Redshirts were holding a mass rally, in Ramkhamhaeng district of Bangkok on the night of 30 November.

Bangkok Metropolitan Police spokesman said yesterday that one of the Redshirts victims, Private Thanasit Viangkham, was killed by Mr. Teerapat Thongrit, a student of Ramkhamhaeng University, who fired a .38 handgun from his dormitory near the clash site. The gun was owned by his friend, identified as Mr. Noppadol Kaewmecheen, police said.

The police have arrested both individuals and confiscated the handgun along with 6 ammunition the officers reportedly found inside the suspects? dormitory room.

A senior police officer said the detectives have determined the ballistic path of the gunfire from the evidences gathered from the spot where the Private Thanasit was shot.

Mr. Teerapat, a freshman in the university′s Faculty of Political Science, has said he would only testify in court, the officer added.

Mr. Jatupon Prompan, a leader of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), said in a press conference that leaders of the anti-government movements must be held responsible for the actions of Mr. Teerapat and Mr. Noppadol.

"These two suspects might end up losing their bright future, now that they are criminals in murder cases," Mr. Jatupon said, "Therefore, those who urged the Ramkhamhaeng students to fight with Redshirts and those who whipped up the hatred must be responsible".

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