February 2009 : ASEAN Community by 2015 Cha-am Declaration signed at ASEAN summit Next year Budget at 1.9 trillion baht Thai economy dropped by 4.3% Ten best and ten worst human rights incidents in 2008 Tax incentive to support handicapped relatives Bigger Southern Provinces budget for development Massive aid for agricultural sector Private school subsidy increased to 70 % Pay rise for sub-district and village heads Five day week-end to boost domestic tourism Revenue officials acquitted for helping Thaksin’s wife Abhisit-Newin cooperation complaint dismissed Extra ratings for Thai movies Cha-am Declaration signed at ASEAN summit On 1st March 2009, ASEAN Heads of State/Government signed the Cha-am Declaration, a roadmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015) at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Cha-am, Petchchaburi. The Declaration is to provide legal and institutional frameworks for realizing an ASEAN Community by 2015. The principal issues are: To build regional resilience through economic and financial stability. To provide for regional security in food and energy. To enhance and develop a regionally integrated system of disaster management, and To narrow the development gap and move forward in a more balanced, inclusive and sustainable manner. In addition, there were others documents including: Documents Adopted/Issued by the Leaders ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2nd Initiative for ASEAN Integration Work Plan Joint Declaration on the Attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in ASEAN Statement on Food Security in the ASEAN Region including the ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework and the Strategic Plan for Action on Food Security in ASEAN 2009-2013. Press Statement on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis Documents Noted by the Leaders The ASEAN Secretary-General’s Annual Report on the Work of ASEAN to the 14th ASEAN Summit The Report of the Secretary-General of ASEAN on the Progress of Implementation of the Vientiane Action program. The Secretary-General of ASEAN’s Report Card and follow-up to the 13th ASEAN Summit and other related Summits (11th ASEAN Plus Three Summit (with China, Japan and ROK), ASEAN Plus One Summit (with China), and 3rd East Asia Summit. The Report of the Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation The Summary Report of the ASEAN Economic Community Scorecard (AEC) and the AEC Scorecard The Report on the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Awareness Year 2008 The Report of the ASEAN Anthem Competition Documents Signed by Relevant Ministers (and witnessed by their Leaders) The ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement Next year Budget at 1.9 trillion baht On 17th February, the Cabinet endorsed the 2010 Fiscal Budget, proposed by the Finance Ministry, of 1.9 trillion baht which includes a deficit of 390 billion baht due to a shortfall in revenue which after tax refunds is expected to be 1.51 trillion baht. This is based on the assumption that in 2010, growth rate will be at 3 percent and inflation 2 percent. This growth rate is higher than in 2009 due to anticipated economic recovery. Thai economy dropped by 4.3% On 23rd February, the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) disclosed that the country’s economy in the fourth quarter of 2008 declined by 4.3 percent; it is the first economic contraction in ten years since the aftershocks of the 1997 crisis. The decline was due to reduction in export, tourism and manufacturing. The Thai economy is likely to slip further in the first quarter of 2009 with GDP falling to 0 and -1 percent because export fell by 26.5 percent in January while tourism is expected to drop by 3.7 percent and private investment by 3 percent. Moreover, it is anticipated that unemployment will increase from 1.5-2.5 percent to a 2.5-3 percent or 900,000- 1,300,000 people will lose their jobs in 2009. Ten best and ten worst human rights incidents in 2008 On 18th February 2009, the Human Rights Commission revealed the 10 most progressive and 10 most regressive incidents in Thai human rights for 2008. The 10 most progressive incidents were: Increased public participation in political movements Thailand became a member of the International Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons The death of a Muslim leader’s, Imam Yapa, killed in police custody, is being considered by the Narathiwat Provincial Court The enactment of the ASEAN Charter The blacking-listing of 14 teachers who sexually harassed their students The Administration Court ordered the Pollution Control Department to compensate victims of water pollution in the Klity Creek, Karjanaburi Province Women now have rights to determine their salutation after marriage Increased awareness of consumers’ rights Social health care programs extended to cover minority groups, diseases caused by cancer, kidney malfunction and others The enforcement of the Human Trafficking Act The most regressive incidents were: Continued violence in the four Southern provinces Violent clashes on 7th October between police and PAD demonstrators caused deaths and injuries Problems with judicial and legal processes The collapse of the world economy in 2008 Sexual and violent incidents in schools The initiation of mega-projects: the redirection of Mekong River water and the construction of a steel smelting plant in Prachub Kirikhan and a sewage disposal unit in Suratthani The harassment of Kamol Lawsopapan, a human rights activist The harassment of the media The abuse of cultural rights The death of 54 illegal Burmese immigrants Tax incentive to support handicapped relatives On 18th February, the House of Representatives voted 249 to 2 with 5 abstentions to approve the Income Taxation Amendment Act to allow a deduction of 30,000 baht on an individual’s income before the calculation of tax for the support of a handicapped member of the family. Family members include parents, spouse, biological and adopted children holding handicapped ID cards. Currently, only those who support their elderly parents can deduct 30,000 baht from their taxable income. Bigger Southern Provinces budget for development On 16th February, the Committee on Specific Area Southern Provinces Development approved an increase in the budget from 40 billion to 60 billion baht for the development of human resources, tourism, industry and mega-projects to stimulate the economy in the four provinces of the South. Massive aid for agricultural sector On 17th February, the Cabinet approved in principle a debt restructure and job rehabilitation program for 69,155 members of the Agricultural Development Fund. The plan, submitted by the Finance Ministry, is divided into 2 categories: 250 million baht will be urgently allocated from the 2009 budget to pay off farmers’ debts which are already being legally enforced. 4,149 million baht will be paid over 3 years for job re-training. It is expecting that 1,367 million baht will come from the 2010 fiscal budget. Private school subsidy increased to 70% On 17th February, the Cabinet approved an increased subsidy for the education of pupils in private schools as follow: Those who already received a subsidy of 60% of the cost of state education will receive 70%. Kindergarten school children will receive a subsidy equal to 70% where previously they received none. The increases in government subsidy are to be reflected in reduced school fees at all levels from kindergarten to vocational study. Pay rise for sub-district and village heads On 24th February, the Cabinet approved a plan to increase salaries of sub-districts heads, village heads and village medical assistants as follow: The sub-district head’s salary will increase from 5,000 to 7,500 baht in the 2010 fiscal year and to 10,000 baht in 2011. The village head’s salary will increase from 4,000 to 6,000 baht in the 2010 fiscal year and to 8,000 baht in 2011. The village medical assistant’s salary will increase from 2,500 to 3,750 baht in the 2010 fiscal year and to 5,000 in 2011. It is estimated that 270,000 people will receive these increases, totaling 10,000 million baht, starting in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Five day week-end to boost domestic tourism On 17th February, the Cabinet approved the Office of the Prime Minister’s proposal to swap or shift public holidays in order to produce longer weekends to boost domestic tourism. For example, Monday 6th July falls between the weekend of 4-5th July and the holidays of Asahabucha (7th July) and Buddhist Lent (8th July), the Cabinet, therefore, approved Monday 6th July as an extra day holiday to make a public holiday long weekend of 5 consecutive days. Revenue officials acquitted for helping Thaksin’s wife On 26th February, the First Instance Criminal Court acquitted the former Director-General of the Revenue Department, Sirote Sawadipanich, and 4 other state officers of charges against articles 154 and 157 of the Criminal Act. The Court stated that they performed their civil service duties as best they could without intention of wrongdoing. They were not directly responsible for determining or collecting taxes themselves and there was no evidence that they received benefits from the alleged misconduct. The case was brought by the Attorney-General against the 5 defendants on charges that they failed to collect taxes from Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra and from her adopted brother, Banapot Damapong, totaled 270 million baht, on the transfer of 4.5 million Shin Corporation shares worth 738 million baht. The share transfer was conducted in 1997 through the Stock Exchange of Thailand, during the time Thaksin Shinawatra was Deputy Prime Minister in the Chavalit Yongjaiyut Government. After the 19th September 2006 coup, the Asset Examination Committee investigated the matter and found that the five defendants were guilty. This was confirmed by the National Counter Corruption Commission who submitted the case to the Attorney-General. The five defendants were accused of misconduct that cost a 270 million baht loss to the State. Abhisit-Newin cooperation complaint dismissed On 19th February, the Election Commission voted 3 to 2 to dismiss the case filed against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Newin Chidchob for shaking hands together prior to the forming of the current government. The majority reasoned that Newin did not violate the Constitutional Court ruling and his action is a basic right protected by the Constitution. Newin was an executive member of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party and is barred from political activity for 5 years. Extra ratings for Thai movies On 17th February, the Cabinet approved 4 draft Ministerial Regulations made pursuant to the Movies and Videos Act BE 2551 which rated entertainment into 7 categories: Edutainment to be encouraged to all audiences For the general public, neither sexual nor violent Suitable for 13 years old and above Suitable for 15 years old and above Suitable for 18 years old and above Prohibited to those younger than 20 years old Nationwide ban for lese majeste, against national security or culture, causing social rift, or is immoral or pornographic. Entertainment is generally rated into 5 categories in most countries but categories 1 and 7 were added in the Thai rating.