Rayong Oil Spill Blamed On Faulty Pipe

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3 January 2014, 16:33

An official during the cleanup operation on Koh Samet, 30 July 2013 (AFP)

(3 January) The PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) has identified "pipe fatigue" as the cause of the oil spill in Gulf of Thailand last July.

The oil slick occurred close to the popular island of Koh Samet in Rayong province, and its effect has blackened some of its famous beaches, causing considerable environmental and economic damages to the island.

According to Mr. Bovorn Wongsin-Udom, CEO of the company, laboratory tests and researches conducted by Engineer Institute of Thailand and Chulalongkorn University confirmed that the incident was caused by failure in the pipeline which transported the oil.

Prior to the incident, Mr. Bovorn said, the steel pipe had suffered previous rift on its steel wall, which lays underneath the outer rubber wall. Engineers had repaired the damage but the fatigued strength of the pipe eventually caused the pipe to tear apart again later, said Mr. Bovorn.

“The problem clearly indicates an error in pipe designing process”, said the boss of the PTTGC, which is partially owned by the state, adding that PTTGC is not responsible for the said error.

However, even though the fault rests with the pipe designs, PTTGC will not sue the pipe manufacturer, as the insurers of the company have already reimbursed PTTGC for the costs related to the incidents. The insurer is solely responsible for its own lawsuit against the pipe supplier, he added.

Mr. Bovorn insisted that PTTGC is looking forward to preventing any re-occurrence of such disastrous situation. The company has changed the pipe supplier and started an ongoing study into the construction of double-walled pipe, he said.

Additional procedures such as stopping the pipeline operation when sea waves rise over 2.5 metres are also being considered, according to the CEO.

As for the effort to compensate those affected by the oil spill, Mr. Bovorn said the company has consulted with academia and related governmental authorities, while Rayong Provincial Authority has established a tri-party commission to resolve any disputes.

"So far, 15,000 local residents had signed up for compensation from PTT, and two-third had received financial support in total of 500 million baht," Mr. Bovorn said, adding that the rest is upon examination and document reviewing process to make sure that the compensation budget will go to those who are truly in need.

Businessowners and vendors in Koh Samet and surrounding area have previously accused the PTTGC of downplaying or delaying their demands for compensation.

PTTGC has also spent undisclosed amount of fund on advertisement in the media to encourage the tourists to return to Koh Samet, but many tourists have reportedly stayed away from the once-popular island.

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Govt 'War Room' To Tackle Bangkok Shutdown

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3 January 2014, 15:07

Anti-government protesters at Ratchadamnoen Avenue, 2 January 2014

(3 January) The government is forming "war rooms" to monitor and tackle the upcoming plan by the anti-government protesters to "shutdown" Bangkok on 13 January.

Protesters led by People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) have vowed to occupy at least 20 major intersections and cause massive gridlock in the capital city in the bid to pressure Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra into resigning from her caretaker position.

The PCAD also demands that the general election on 2 February 2014 be scrapped in favour of the establishment of an unelected ?People′s Council? to rule Thailand as a transitional government and implement series of reforms deemed desirable by the PCAD.

But the government has repeatedly rejected the protesters? demands. Officials also state they are preparing for the "shutdown" on 13 January.

Minister of Transport Chatchart Sitthipan said he plans to set up a centre operated under the Ministry of Transport to monitor the situation and attempt to lessen the massive traffic jam, which is expected to engulf Bangkok on the day.

"To decrease the effect on the public, I have instructed the agencies to increase trips of public buses, suburban trains, and express boats," said Mr. Chatchart.

He also asked the public not to drive their cars into the downtown during the "shutdown" to lessen traffic congestion and said the tollway authorities are figuring out how to manage the particularly severe congestion on 13 January.

Furthermore, Mr. Chatchart warned that the protesters who disrupt the traffic or cause damage to transport of goods, such as occupying ports or airports, would be severely punished under the laws.

Meanwhile, Minister of Interior Affairs Jarupong Ruengsuwan told reporters the government is working closely with administrations of public utilities in Bangkok to make sure there would be not be any cut of electric power or water during the shutdown, as some leaders of PCAD have threatened.

Additionally, a special "war room" would be set up by the government to handle the protests on 13 January, apart from the existing Center for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), according to Mr. Jarupong.

Mr. Jarupong downplayed the fears that violence could erupt in Bangkok during the shutdown, after the pro-government Redshirts have announced plans to stage counter protests on the same day.

However, he encouraged members of the public who do not agree with PCAD′s tactics to turn on the headlights of their vehicles during daytime as means to express their opposition. These dissidents should also turn to the Internet and campaign against the "shutdown" of Bangkok, Mr. Jarupong added.

"Mr. Suthep should think about his plan carefully, because there are many Bangkokians who are against it," Mr. Jarupong said, referring to secretary general of the PCAD, Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban.

The government′s move to establish their own centres of protest resolution also came at a time when tension between the government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is increasingly apparent.

Bangkok Governor, Sukhumbhand Paribatra, has been accused by supporters of the government of subtly endorsing the PCAD protests. His recent appearance at the protest rally site to assist Mr. Suthep′s "Big Cleaning Day" reinforced this allegation even further.

Perhaps out of the suspicion that BMA is siding with the protesters, Mr. Jarupong has yesterday sent an official letter to the BMA, reminding the administration of its duty to serve the Bangkok public with an unbiased attitude.

The letter also implored the BMA to refrain from lending official equipment or vehicles to the protesters, and urged the administration to organise adequate responses to the upcoming "Bangkok shutdown", such as providing additional public transports to the commuters.

"I believe the Governor of Bangkok will proceed his duty according to the laws," the letter said, "Because no one is above the laws".

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BOT: Commodity Price To Increase By 3-4%

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3 January 2014, 14:08

PM Yingluck Shinawatra inspecting goods in Mahasarakharm province, 21 December 2013

(3 January) The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has stated that many business ventures will likely readjust the prices of their services and goods following a period of political turmoil.

Uncertainty in the domestic and international market is also cited as another reason for the possible increase.

According to a poll made in November 2013, many businesses responded that they are aware of economic and politic uncertainties, particularly after the protest against the government broke out, the BoT statement reads.

However, the statement adds, numbers of businesses concerned about the political uncertainty remains lower than in April 2010, when the Redshirts took to streets and demanded that then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva calls new election.

“The majority of businesses considerably agree that cost of production had increased, and will increase again in next three months, which is in accordance with the previous expectation”, reported the BoT.

Many businesses believe that product prices should increase 3-4% in the next 12 months, the report suggested.

It also commented that business sectors are awaiting to assess the recovery of the demand from domestic and international market.

Moreover, Business Confidence Index had continuously fallen to 46.9, the lowest since the Great Flood of 2011, according to BoT. Reportedly, many firms are suffering from lack of demands from domestic and international buyers, as well as rising cost of production.

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Tax On Secondhand Cars Will Raise 30 Billions

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3 January 2014, 13:40

(3 January) The Revenue Department (RD) is planning to register secondhand cars business in order to gain more tax revenue.

The plan is also designed to introduce the business to regional markets, official said.

“Since the dissolution of the Parliament, we decided to propose the plan to the new cabinet” said Mr. Sutthichai Sangkhamanee, RD Director General.

“Numbers of used car increased to 3 million in these 5-6 years. I believe that the tax revenue from the business should provide more than 30 billion baht each year”, he said.

He added that the department will imitate the British Used Car taxation system, and will cooperate with the Department of Land Transport in evaluating the used car price and tax calculations.

Mr. Sutthichai said the new system would also help the business to grow abroad, as well as attracting foreign investors.

“Generally, used car trading was not officially registered in the system. Hence the Department is unable to collect Value Added Tax and Personal Income Tax from car owners. We need to systemise the process,” Mr. Sutthichai told our correspondent.

Up to now, the RD tax collection system for used car dealers relies on the stock review, which is sometimes troublesome as many dealers keep their stockpiles away from their operating sites, according to Mr. Sutthichai.

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Yingluck: Govt Considering State of Emergency

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2 January 2014, 18:22

(2 January) Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has said the government is studying the possibility of announcing State of Emergency to contain the anti-government protests.

Her remark came a day after Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), confirmed his plan to "shutdown" Bangkok for weeks, beginning on 13 January 2014, to force Ms. Yingluck into resigning from her caretaker position.

Ms. Yingluck said the administration is considering whether to request presence of the military to maintain public order during the shutdown.

"National security agencies and CAPO [Centre for Administration of Peace and Order] are evaluating the situation," Ms. Yingluck said, adding that the option of declaring a State of Emergency is also being studied.

Meanwhile, chief of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police has called on Mr. Suthep to reveal the details of his "shutdown" operation, so the public would know which roads or intersections would be occupied by the protesters.

Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamronvit Thoopkrachang added that the police would be able to provide security for the protesters if they are aware which routes the demonstrators would take during the mass rallies.

He also denied accusation put forth by the PCAD that the police were responsible for death of one anti-government protester at the clashes near Thai-Japan Stadium last month.

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Chiang Mai Police Bust Meth-Filled Cat Food

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2 January 2014, 18:03

(2 January) A woman has been arrested at Chiang Mai Airport after immigration police discovered crystal meth stuffed in her cat food cans and other food packages.

According to Pol.Lt.Col. Udom Suwannalekha, Deputy Director of Chiang Mai immigration office, his team has received reports that a number of narcotic substances would be transported from Macao to Thailand via Chiang Mai Airport. He then arranged an investigation team to search for the shipment of the illicit substances.

Police later x-rayed the luggage of Ms. Chutima Boonsam-ang, 23, who was flying home from Macao and noticed suspicious objects inside canned animal food and chocolate. A thorough search of the cans revealed 3 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine stuffed inside the 8 cans.

Ms. Chutima has several records of travelling in and outside of the Kingdom, police said. According to her testimony, she has been helping her parents’ business in Malaysia, before travelling to Macao where a Chinese man gave her the cat foods and other items for the pets she kept at home in Chiang Mai.

She claimed she did not know about the methamphetamine inside the cans.

Police said Ms. Chutima has been charged with possessing narcotic substances for sale illegally.

Yesterday police at Suvarnabhumi Airport also uncovered 2.3 kilogram of crystal meth inside the luggage of a man who claimed to be a Vietnamese monk.

Mr. Paisan Chuenjit, Deputy Director-General of Custom Department, identified the man as Mr. Nguyen Van Thiet, 64, and said the police searched his belonging after realising that his features matched the reports they had received from teams of police undercover agents.

Underneath Mr. Nguyen′s luggage the police found 2.3 kg of crystal methamphetamine – worth approximately 8 million baht – covered in a blue carbon paper and a plastic bag.

Mr. Nguyen then testified that he is a monk travelling from China’s Sh?nzhèn province. As he was departing China with China Southern Airlines, a Vietnamese woman approached him to ask him to carry the item for her friend in Phuket, who will contact Mr. Nguyen by a phone call, he added.

There is no any evidence proving Mr. Nguyen′s identity as a monk, police insisted. Furthermore, he also traveled to Thailand on tourist visa and not a religious personnel visa, according to the custom officer.

Mr. Nguyen has been charged for possessing illicit substances and for bringing in the narcotic substance without permission. He will be prosecuted further by the Royal Thai Police Narcotics Suppression Bureau.

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New Year Party Gunmen Arrested, Police Say

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2 January 2014, 17:02

(2 January) Police in Udon Thani province have arrested two young men accused of shooting a group of vocational students during their New Year parties.

The incident took place during the night of New Year Eve in Chiang Yuen district, where police received reports that 5 students had been injured in a shooting.

One of the wounded students, Mr. Nattachai Chanakul, 20, had been shot in his head and stomach. remains in critical condition, but the doctors said they had successfully removed the bullets. Four other students have suffered from less severe gunshot wounds.

The wounded students said they are currently enrolled at a vocational school in Udon Thani. On the night of the incident, they said, they and their friends were gathering at Mr. Nattachai′s house for the count down party when suddenly hail of bullets started to hit the roof of the house as midnight approaches.

The students told police that they later realised that another group of youths at a nearby house across the rice field were firing two rifles into the air for entertainment. When the students ran toward the youths and told them to stop discharging their firearms, they said, two of the youths simply opened fire at them.

Mr. Nattachai and four others were hit by the bullets and the rest of the students ran for their lives into the night, the students told police.

The police later arrested Mr. Wirayuth Tangmandee, 19, and a 16 year old man on suspicion of committing the crime. The police also uncovered the rifles used in the incident and a number of ammunition.

Mr. Wirayuth claimed he had been attacked once by the student group in the afternoon of New Year′s Eve, and the same group later gathered near his house and throwing stones at him as he fired his gun into the air. The suspect explained that he and his friend became enraged and opened fire at the students.

The name of Mr. Wirayuth′s friend cannot be undisclosed due to legal reason.

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Redshirts Vow Counter-Rally On 13 Jan

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2 January 2014, 15:28

(2 January) Leaders of the Redshirts movement have vowed to organise massive rallies to counter the attempt to ′shutdown Bangkok? by anti-government protesters.

"Since [some] people will shutdown Bangkok on 13 January, we will keep the country open on 13 January," said Mr. Jatupon Prompan, a leader of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

The move came after Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), announced his plan to "shutdown" the capital city on 13 January 2014 by holding mass rallies on major intersections and roads of Bangkok.

Mr. Suthep billed the plan as the means to pressure Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra into resigning and paving the way for the establishment of an unelected ?People′s Council?, which would then implement series of "reforms" deemed desirable by the PCAD leaders.

PCAD also demanded that the upcoming election on 2 February 2014 be postponed before the "reforms" are completed, but the government has insisted that the election must go ahead as planned.

The Redshirts, the major support base of the government, have been mostly silent throughout the prolonged campaign by anti-government protesters; their last major rally in Bangkok in November last year ended in bloodshed after three of their supporters and one anti-government protester were killed in street clashes near the rally site.

However, it appears that the Redshirts have lost patience.

"The PCAD′s shutdown of Bangkok amounts to taking Thailand and Thai people hostages. It would lead to division and a civil war," Mr. Jatupon, the UDD leader, said in a press conference today at Imperial Ladprao shopping mall.

Mr. Jatupon also accused the PCAD of attempting to create chaos which would persuade the military to intervene. He warned that should a military coup take place, it would be met with widespread resistance by the people.

He encouraged the Redshirts to "follow and listen to signal from the leaders, but let me stress that we will proceed everything with peaceful means".

Ms. Thida Thawornseth, chairwoman of the UDD, also condemned the "Bangkok shutdown" plan by PCAD as a "dictatorship of the minority" to disrupt the upcoming general election.

She called on the Election Commission (EC) to reflect on its alleged reluctance to facilitate the election registration. "I would like to inform EC that the entire country knows what EC is doing, what is EC′s stance, who is claiming to be neutral but committing actions that are clearly biased," Ms. Thida said.

"At this minute, we have reached an important point," Ms. Thida told reporters, "We are prepared".

Later in the day Mr. Pichit Tamool, coordinator of the UDD in Chiang Mai welcomed Mr. Jatupon′s call for a counter rally on 13 January. He said he would discuss with other UDD leaders in the 17 northern provinces – the stronghold of the Redshirts – about plans to stage rallies in Bangkok.

He estimated that "500,000" Redshirts in the northern region would arrive in Bangkok to join the mass protest organised by the UDD and campaign against "the PCAD and all forms of extrajudicial powers".

However, Mr. Pichit said the local activists of PCAD are free to organise their planned rally in Chiang Mai in solidarity with the PCAD protesters in Bangkok on 13 January, but expressed his wish that the PCAD protesters in the northern province would refrain from occupying roads or storming governmental buildings.

"Don?t cause troubles to the people, otherwise the waves of the mass will surely go out and counter them," Mr. Pichit said.

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Former PM Chuan's Residence Attacked By Gunfire

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2 January 2014, 14:54

(2 January) An unidentified gunman has sprayed bullets on the residence of the senior adviser of Democrat Party in Trang province last night.

Former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai was sleeping at the rear side of the residence compound while his brother, Kij Leekpai, was sleeping at the front house and was only 15 metre away when the gunman opened fire, according to Mr. Kij.

The attack occurred at approximately midnight, Mr. Kij said. Residents in the area later collected 9 bullet cases of 9 mm handgun around Mr. Chuan′s residence.

Trang police said the investigating the case and have expressed their belief that the suspect is a lone gunman who intended to escalate the ongoing confrontation between the government and anti-government protests.

No injury has been reported.

Previously, unidentified assailants also sprayed their bullets into the residence of Mr. Satit Wongnong-toei, a former Trang representative for Democrat Party and currently a co-leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), on 26 December 2013.

Mr. Chuan did not display any sign of distress when he emerged from his residence later this morning. He later traveled to Trang Airport where he would leave for Bangkok.

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30 Buddha Figures Stolen From Historic Temple

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2 January 2014, 14:21

(2 January) More than 30 Buddha figures have been stolen from a historic temple in Ang Thong province.

The incident took place at Sunthraram Temple in Viset Chaicharn district. The Buddha figures were stored in a room on second floor of the temple′s office building. The door of the room has been pried open, and the suspects also stole a bronze statue of a famous monk which was placed just outside the room, police said.

Mr. Surapol Thongpetch, a committee member of the temple administration, said the Buddha storage room has been off limit to the public for a long time, and he only found out about the theft yesterday morning when a couple of temple-goers has asked the abbot for their permission to visit the storage room and admire the artifacts.

The abbot, Phra Kru Suweerabhorn, said he almost fainted when he discovered that the Buddha figures had been stolen, since each of the Buddha statue is at least 200 years old. Some also dated back to the period of Ayutthaya kingdom, the abbot added.

He said one particular Buddha statue is a life-sized artwork made of teak wood, and has been adored as a prominent treasure of the temple.

Police believe the suspects number no less than 3 people. Detectives are now interrogating staff of the temple, as there were evidences that the thieves had good knowledge of the temple′s layout and escape routes.

The police are also investigating antique shops in the area, lest the suspects attempt to sell their stolen artifacts.

Suthraram Temple is an ancient temple which has been briefly occupied by the Burmese armies during their invasion of Ayutthaya kingdom, and there have been numerous incidents of theft of religious relics at the temple in the past, our correspondent said.

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