July 2010 : UNESCO postponing Preah Vihear decision UNESCO postponing Preah Vihear decision Democrat won BMA by-election. Two bomb blasts in Bangkok nother six provinces had Emergency Laws lifted Arrest warrant for Thaksin Veera bailed TPI not being pursued for electoral fraud Train fares to rise on 1st October Public debt increased by 35,000 million in May TDRI recommended expanding tax-base Advice from Nobel Laureate Members of all National Reform Panels named Medics oppose Bill on Protection of Medical Victims UNESCO postponing Preah Vihear decision On 29th July, UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided to postpone until next year its consideration of the Preah Vihear Temple Management Plan. This is in order to ease the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia as well as allowing the two countries more time for to settle their differences over their common boundaries. Moreover, the Plan was submitted just shortly before the meeting started with many issues to be considered. Democrat won BMA by-election On 25th July, it was unofficially announced that Democrat Party candidate Panit Vikitset won the by-election in Bangkok Metropolitan Authority Constituency 6 with 96,480 votes. The runner-up was Korkaew Pikulthong of Pheu Thai Party who received 81,776 votes. Constituency 6 comprises of 4 districts: Khlong Sam Wa, Bueng Kum, Nong Chok and Khan Na Yao. There were 386,660 eligible voters but only 191,598, or 49.55 percent, actually voted. Two bomb blasts in Bangkok On 25th July at 17.45, a bomb exploded at a bus stop in front of the Big C Superstore on Ratchadamri Road, 9 were injured and 2 buses damaged. Later on 30th July, another bomb went off at 01.00 in front of the King Power Duty-Free Store in Soi Rang Nam with one person injured. Another six provinces had Emergency Laws lifted Six provinces were added to the three which previously had the State of Emergency Laws lifted. They were: Ayutthaya, Nong Bua Lum Phu, Chaiyaphum, Mukdaharn, Chonburi, Mahasarakham, Lumpang, Roi Et and Sakon Nakorn. Currently there remain ten provinces still under Emergency Laws, they are: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathumthani, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Ubonratchathani, Udonthani, Nakornratchasima, Khon Kaen and Samutprakarn. Arrest warrant for Thaksin The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin Shinawatra for submitting false financial statements. The case against him was filed by the National Counter-Corruption Commission following the Court’s earlier finding that he had submitted fraudulent financial statements. Sine Thaksin is a fugitive, the case is temporary suspended until he can be brought before the Court. Veera bailed Veera Musikpong was the first Red Shirt leader to be released due to his illness on a bail of 6 million Baht. He was released under conditions that he must not: leave Bangkok or the country without leave of the Court, attend a meeting of more than 5 persons unless they are his siblings or his relatives, or publicize his opinions. In addition, he must report himself every 15 days as the Court directed. Veera and other Red Shirt leaders turned themselves in to the police after the demonstrations ended and were detained by the Court for sentencing. TPI not being pursued for electoral fraud On 19th July, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) decided not to pursue TPI Polene Plc for violating the Election Act during the period between July 2004 and February 2005, by hiring Messiah to produce election campaign posters, costing 263 million Baht, for Democrat Party candidates. The reason for their decision was that the allegation had insufficient evidence. Upon investigating Messiah Business and Creation Company’s financial statement and contract, it was found that the company was actually hired to do the job; therefore, there was insufficient evidence to support TPI’s wrongdoing. Train fares to rise on 1st October On 30th July, the Board of Commissioners of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) decided to raise train fares for first and second classes by 10 percent, starting on 1st October. It is expected that this will increase SRT income by 97 million Baht annually. However, third class train fare and the free-ride policy would remain to help low income group. In any event, SRT needs final approval from the Finance Ministry before the fare increase can be brought into force. Public debt increased by 35,000 million Baht in May The Public Debt Management Office disclosed that as of 31st May 2010, public debt rose to 4,144,260 million Baht, or equivalent to 42.59 percent of Gross National Product, and is 35,278 million Baht higher than the previous month. Of the increase, 32,720 million Baht was the direct result of government borrowing and the balance of 13,791 million borrowings by non-financial state enterprises. TDRI recommended expanding tax-base Thailand Development Research Institute revealed its study on financial measures for socio-economic equality that tax collection bases should be expanded in order to increase state revenue, to cope with increased social welfare and to reduce social inequality. The report found that there are currently 8-9 million taxpayers or only one quarter of the total workforce. The figure is low because economic development in past decades created wide gaps in income, assets and savings amongst the people. Advice from Nobel Laureate On 20th July, the 1998 Nobel laureate for Economics, Prof. Dr. Amartya Sen made a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Government House. During their conversation, Prof. Sen commented on Thailand’s recent unrest that it was not the clash of classes as reported by the international press but a manifestation of very intricate social conflict. To resolve this problem, he suggested that all societal sectors: public, private and civil society must cooperate to instill justice in society. He also recommended that the reconciliation process, started by the government, should bring in both truth and justice. Moreover, political parties should endeavor to reconcile and last but not least, development factors, such as justice, equality in the distribution of wealth and natural resources, must be promoted. Members of all National Reform Panels named On 7th July, the three National Reform Committees disclosed their panel members as follow: The Truth and Reconciliation Committee: Kanit Nanakorn, Chairman Kittipong Kitayarak, Permanent Secretary of the Justice Ministry Jutharat Uea-amnuay, political scientist at Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Political Science Decha Sangkhawan, Dean of Thammasart University Faculty of Social Welfare Pairote Polaphet, Secretary–General of the Human Rights Association Ronnachai Kongsakon, medical doctor at the Ramathipdee University Faculty of Medicine Somchai Homla-or, President of the Lawyers Association’s Campaign Committee for Human Rights Surasak Likhasitwattanakul, Dean of Thammasart University Faculty of Law Manij Sooksomchit, Senior Editor of Thairath Newspaper The National Reform Committee: Anand Panyarachun, former Prime Minister, Chairman. Kritsanapong Kiratokor, former Secretary-General of the Higher Education Commission. Khunying Kasama Worawan na Ayutthaya, former Secretary-General of the Basic Education Commission. Chai-anan Samudavanija, President of the Institute of Public Policy Studies. Narong Pengprasert, economist at Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Economics. Nidhi Eoseewong, historian. Banthorn Ondam, sociologist (rural development). Pranee Thinnakorn, economist at Thammasart University Faculty of Economics. Pongpayome Wasaphuti, former Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry. Permsak Makarapirom, member of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council Phra Phaisal Wisaro, Abbot of Wat Pa Sukhato Ratchanee Thongchai, Principal of Children’s Village School Wichai Chokwiwat, Deputy Chairman of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation Wiriya Namsiripongphan, member of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council Srisakorn Wallipodom, historian Somchai Ruchuphan, former Director-General of the Revenue department Sompong Wienchan, leader of the Assembly of the Poor Somsuk Boonyabancha, former Director of the Community Organization Development Institution Seksan Prasertkul, former Dean of Thammasart University Faculty of Political Science MR Akin Rapipat, Chairman of the Thai Communities Foundation The National Reform Assembly: Prawes Wasi, Chairman Sanan Suphanchanaburi, Chairman of the Association of Tambon Administrative Organizations of Thailand Prasert Suebkha, Chairman of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand Dusit Nonthanakhon, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Phayungsak Chartsuthipol, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries Prasan Triratvorakul, Chairman of the Thai Banking Association Chuchai Supawong, Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Commission Kittipong Kitayarak, Permanent Secretary of the Justice Ministry Chaiwat Thiraphan, Director of the Civicnet Institute Assoc Professor Chidchanok Rahimula, political scientist Narong Phetprasert, economist Torpong Selanon, Vice President of the Blind Association Tuenjai Detet, former Senator Assoc Professor Nipon Puanpongsakorn, President of the Thailand Development Reasearch Institute Naowarat Pongpaibul, National Artist (poet) Preeda Kongpaen, manager of the Thai Community Foundation Preeda Tiasuwan, businessman of Social Venture Network Thailand Premruedee Charmpunnutch, Mayor of Phitsanulok municipality Poladej Pinprateep, former Deputy Minister of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry Paiboon Wattanasiritham, former Minister of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry Manit Suksomjit, President of the Thai Press Development Foundation Ratchata Sribunrat, President of the Children and Youth Council of Thailand Raewadee Prasertcharoensuk, former Chief of the NGO Coordinating Committee Wichai Chokwiwat, Deputy Chairman of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation Son Roopsung, Deputy Chairman of the Political Development Council Somporn Chaibangyang, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry Saree Ongsomwang, Secretary-General of the Foundation for Consumers Ennu Cheusuwan, Deputy Manager of The Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives Medics oppose Bill on Protection of Medical Victims Hundreds of medical doctors and nurses in Bangkok hospitals and the provinces dressed in black to show their opposition to the draft Bill on Protection of Medical Victims and to call for the withdrawal of the draft bill from the Parliament. Their disagreement is with Article 7 on the lack of medical representatives on the Panel to Promote of Good Relations in Public Health and with Article 45 on the criminal liability of medical personnel. Doctors in hospitals nationwide are collecting as much as 10,000 signatures to endorse their opposition to this draft bill. In the meantime, medical personnel will wear black and organize activities every Friday until the draft bill is amended.