|
|
|
|
|
|
 February 2014 : Red Shirt Fighting Strategies Unveiled
Gunfire before Election Day On 1 February 2014 at 3.30 pm, a few hours before an the General Election started, a group of Red Shirts clashed with PDRC demonstrators in front of Lak Si District Office. After gunfire stopped, 9 injured were sent to hospitals. Following the incident, on 2 Feb. PDRC leaders decided to dissolve the Victory Monument and Lad Phrao intersection assembling venues and relocated the demonstrators to Lumpini Park, therefore, since the beginning id Feb. the Bangkok Shutdown occupation remains in 4 places; Pathumwan, Lumpini Park, Ratchprasong and Asoke intersection. General election uncompleted On 2 February, election polling was successfully held in 68 provinces but in another 18 polling were either uncompleted or no polling at all. The 18 include those 9 southern provinces; Krabi, Chumporn, Trang, Phang Nga, Pattalung, Phuket, Ranong, Songkhla and Surat Thani, where no candidacy applied. From a total of 43,024,786 eligible voters, 47.42% or 20,530,359 went to cast their ballots in 83,699 poll stations. 14,645,812 casted ballots, 71.34%, were valid, 2,458,461 or 11.97% invalid and the vote-no were 3,426,080 or 16.69%. These numbers excluded the advance and outside the Kingdom votes held on 26 January 2014. While there were a total of 93,952 polling stations nationwide, 83,699 stations or 89.05% were able to complete their balloting. The rest 10,238 or 10.95% uncompleted were in 69 constituencies in which some balloting were completely no polling and some incomplete polling due to disruption from chaotic and blockages. Bangkok Metropolitan has 6,671 polling stations and 6,155 were opened for polling while 516 completely closed. BMA voters were 4,369,120 and 25.94% or 1,133,269 went to cast their ballots. Among all casted ballots, 775,821 were valid, 90,923 invalid and 266,552 abstained from voting . Due to an absent of candidacy in some constituencies, the election result was withheld as well as the announcement of party list MPs. The 2 February general election not fully responded was a result from PDRC campaign “Reform before Election”. Democrat party also boycott and sent no candidate to run in this election. 20 PRCD demonstrators were killed in 4 months February was the fourth month of PDRC demonstration and in this month there were 3 violence. Another 16 demonstrators and one police officer were killed and 4 of them were children. The first violence started on 18 February when the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) ordered operations to reclaim 5 demonstration venues; the Government House, Democracy Monument, Interior Ministry, Energy Ministry and Chaeng Wattana Civil Center. At daybreak 25,000 police forces were deployed to these five venues and the mission at the Energy Ministry and Chaeng Wattana were accomplished without violence. It was totally different at Pan Fah Leelat bridge near the Democracy Monument regardless to the negotiation between police officers and demonstrators seemed to be in progress as the demonstrators agreed to open some obstructed traffic lanes. The police officer demanded all lanes cleared and the demonstration leaders refused and some expressed their reject by sat down in front of the barriers. 5,000 anti-riot police started to dismantle the sand bags barricades and shelters. The police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disband the protesters who fought back with plastic bottles and wooden pieces. Suddenly a bomb exploded and chaotic intensified after live bullets were used. An unknown force came from nowhere to exchange multiple gun fire with police. After the police force force retreated, 70 injuries and 5 deaths were reported. One deceased was a police officer. The second fatal incident took place on 22 February at 9.30pm in Khao Saming district, Trat province. Gunmen in 2 pick-up trucks threw grenades and shot into a group of people gathering at the PDRC stage. 37 were wounded and 3, including two 5 years old girls died. The EOD found evidence that the grenade was the same type as previous attacks at Bantad Thong, Victory Monument and Prathumwan intersection. Its serial number was scratched and unidentified. The third incident took place a day later in Bangkok on 23 Feb. at 17.00 hrs. An M79 grenade was shot from a long distance into a road in front of Big C superstore near the stage of PDRC in Ratchprasong. A woman and two children were dead and 22 standing in the area were injured. On 28 February, Suthep Thuagsuban announced on 3 March PDRC will dissolve from all demonstration venues and move into Lumpini Park. The dissolution was not a termination to fighting but a return of traffic space to the public. A total of 718 injuries and 20 dead were reported between 30 November 2013 to 24 February 2014. Red Shirt fighting strategies unveiled On 23 rd February, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) held political activities at Liptapanlop Hall in Chalermprakiat Stadium in Nakorn Ratchsima. There were approximately 3,000 attendants and many more viewers via Asia Update television broadcasting. They announced their goals to zero in 4 groups: 1. the People's Democratic Reform Committee, 2. independent agencies, 3. the judicial system and 4. anyone plan to use the arm force for a direct or indirect coup. The meeting came up with 11 proposals for the caretaker government. They include: no stepping down, arresting PDRC chief Suthep Thaugsuban and co-leaders, and exercising civil disobedience against "unjust" rulings and decisions by independent agencies, recruitting combat force nationwide, and a setup of exile government firstly in the North or Northeast regions, and outside Thailand if neccessary. M79 fired into Civil-Criminal Courts premises On 14 February night, a M79 grenade was shot into the Criminal Court building on Ratchadapisek road. It went broke into the seventh floor window and caused minor casualties. Police officer said it must be shot from a moving vehicle on the bridge. Another M79 was shot again on 23 February at 13:00 hours into a parking lot between the Criminal and Civil Court buildings. Though it did not explode, the EOD found it was still active. The Civil Court was visited a day earlier on 22 February after the Court, on 19 Feb., rejected to revoke the imposition of the emergency law but added several prohibitions . Some 50-60 Red Shirts held a protest inside the Court’s premise. Army Chief commented on the unrest On 24 February Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-Ocha made a comment broadcasted televised on the current unrest situations that the army should take extremely caution and acceptable, from all involved parties including an international community, to resolve the problem. The government is liable to responsible on all losses and urgently bring the lawbreakers to justice. The army shall not take side and will react according to the rule-of-law by not using forces. He affirmed a revolution could not stop this current conflict but intensify the problems. He warned that intruding into state-own premises or violence against officers on duty is severe crime. He called all parties to act peacefully and cooperate in providing solutions to this current crisis. Civil Court uphold rights to peaceful demonstration On 19th, the Civil Court ruled the government has authority to impose an emergency decree but the demonstrators rights to assembly and to protest in a peaceful manner are protected by the constitution. To uphold the citizen’s right, the Court added 9 rules to prohibit both parties in such a demonstration. In addition to the written ruling, the Civil Court sent specific written orders to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order ( CMPO) Chief Chalerm Yubambung and National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Adul Sangsingkaew to make sure they would not forcefully disperse or subverting peaceful demonstration. Following the Court’s ruling, on 21 March, Police Chief Pol. Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew noticed all police officers in the area where emergency law being imposed that they are dutiful to perform their function in compliance to regular law and orders and refrain from exercising any mission assigned by CMPO. NIDA: Neutral PM to resolve crisis On 3 February, the National Institute of Development Administration ( NIDA) Law Faculty dean Banjerd Singkaneti advocated his idea as follow:
OAG: Rice pledging scheme should be terminated The Office of the Auditor-General of Thailand (OAG) alerted the Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, in an officially letter sent on 30 January 2014, to terminate the rice pledge scheme. Alternative alleviation measures, such as providing the low income farmers with agricultural resources, should be implemented to help the rice farmers. The OAG urged the government to urgently pay the farmers’ debt and reiterate all responsible agencies to submit reports to the Rice Pledge Accounting System Sub-committee who would forward the report to the OAG examination and publicly acknowledge in a publication report. The OAG had previously sent 3 official warning letters to the Prime Minister on the weaknesses of the rice pledge scheme. After 3 years of implementation; 2011/2012 and 2013, a total deficit, at 31 January 2013 was Baht 332,372.32 million and this is a great loss to national economic and was not a sustainability development. The loss was likely to increase every year since it was Baht 111,403.54 million higher than the same period of previous year. Meanwhile, the OAG sent another message to notify Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong that in sought of loan payment for the 2013/2014 crop, the ministry must adhere to all relevant laws and regulations and not to violate the charter. The loan’s approval and all responsible agencies would be liable to responsible on all irregularities and loss occur from violation of laws. TDRI: Rice pledging overpriced lesson Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) president Somkiat Tangkitvanich commented on the rice pledging that the scheme failed from its beginning because the pledged rice was sold cheaper than its real cost. As corruption occurred in the operation from buying and selling, the income was much less than anticipation and deficit accumulated from every transaction. TDRI distinguish scholar Ammar Siamwalla said the rice pledge scheme is the biggest corruption with presentable receipts. The government is currently in a failed situation due to it could not get a loan to pay farmers’ debt. However, the situation is not in a stage of bankruptcy since the rice stock is a transferable asset if done in a proper time. Since white rice is perishable goods, the best solution is to sell the stock, get cash and pay the farmers’ deb Another TDRI distinguish scholar Nipon Puapongsakorn also said if the government affirm to continue the scheme, it will be a downfall of Thai rice export and other countries would gain great beneficial from our policy. The implementation was mismanaged and non-systematic as reflected from the current unpaid of farmers’ debt. All three scholars were consensus that it is the first time in Thai history that the government owes money to rice farmers. It is a costly lesson the next government must avoid. Agricultural sectors need government assistant but all measures must be done sustainably and sincerely. Development should be on improve of export market, increase of production capability, upgrade quality to meet higher market’s need, research and development of crops etc. Expired rice found in pledged warehouse In Pichit province, the Senate’s Deliberative Assembly for Agriculture and Cooperatives held a meeting with Pichit’s governor Surachai Kanasa, the Provincial Rice Policy commission and representatives from several agricultural agencies to investigate evidences of irregularities in the rice pledging scheme. There were evidence that a total amount of low quality 40,000 ton of Cambodian rice was transported into the country. The importer declared it was broken rice so as to pay import duty at Baht 1 per kilogram. After refined, it was pledged at Baht 15,000 to 20,000 per ton. Though the importers and the mills had profited a few thousand Baht per ton, the state loss was 10 folds since the rice was of much lower standard. The Pitsanulok governor so ordered responsible agencies to inspect 68 government warehouses in the province after it was earlier founded that rice stock in one warehouse was stained with fungus. The stock was a crop of the 2011/12 planting season. NACC : PM negligence caused corruption in rice pledging On 18 February, the National Anti-Corruption Commission unanimously resolved Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was negligent and has refrained from halting the damages upon her acknowledgement of irregularities and corruption in the rice pledged scheme. Following her summon to acknowledge the charge on 27 Feb., the defending process would start 15 days after the notification. Meanwhile Yingluck would continue the caretaker prime minister function. On 27 February, Yingluck authorized an attorney team to represent her at the NACC office. They were also accredited to act on her behalf until the process ends. Farmers protest spread wider In February, many groups of rice pledged farmers in the central region, started to block highways demanding for their more than 4 months belated payment from the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). As their numbers grew, some of them went to Bangkok and set a protest on the road in front of Commerce Ministry building. Ten of thousands agricultural households were deprived of cash for 6 months and they have to borrow money for a living and were seriously in-debts. Four farmers had committed suicide to escape financial problem and many households were barely made a living. A woman confessed, on PRCD stage, that her children were starving after all backyard crops were used-up. The unpaid farmers authorized the Lawyer Council to file civil suits against the Prime Minister and cabinet members. They were categorized into 3 groups:
The government currently owes Baht 130 billion to these farmers and are desperately in urgent need of loans to pay these debts. Potential sources were state-owned and commercial banks, social security fund and state enterprises reserve but all attempt were declined and the caretaker government had to turn to the last financial source; a central budget of the 2014 fiscal year. However, the law prohibit caretaker government to create financial commitment to the new administration, therefore, the government asked the Election Commission (EC) on this matter and the EC agreed that Baht 712 million could be relocated to lessen farmers’ debts of 3,971 household. On 21 February, an Indonesia media reported there was evidence that Thai rice was imported into Indonesia at a very low cost. The price dumpling greatly affected world market mechanism and rice exporter countries such as Vietnam and India are considering to file complaints to the World Trade Organization. 3 million tons rice lost during transport On 3 February, the Public Warehouse director authorized an official to inform the police that a 3,478,011 ton of rice, cost Baht 80 million, was lost during its transport from warehouses in Udon Thani to rice mills in Lopburi. The incident occurred in March 2013 when this amount of paddy rice, transported in 105 truck-loads, was on its way to be refined and distributing as a cheap package rice in the government project to ease low income household economic burden. China cancelled G-to-G rice buy On 4 February, caretaking deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwathamrong Boonsongpaisan disclosed that Chinese enterprise Pei Ta Hwuang Group had cancelled the 1.2 million tons G-to-G buying agreement made between the Beijing Great Northern Wilderness Rice Industry and Thai government. The contract was signed on 20 November 2013. CC investigation on Baht 2 trillion Loan Bill On 12 February, the Constitutional Court judges started an investigation into an allegation on the constitutionality of the enactment of the Baht 2 trillion loans Bill. 5 financial experts were summoned to provide oral evidence as summarized. Representative from the Auditor General Office Patarachai Chuchue reassured the Baht 2 trillion Loan is categorized as public finance, to be supervised by the Finance Ministry and incompliance to the ministerial rules and regulations. All state expenditure must be audited by the Auditor General Office. Former deputy Finance Minister Pisit Leeahtam said Section 8 of the constitution stipulates that public spending must be transparent and conform to state rules and regulations. While the Baht 1 trillion rapid rail project would create state burden for the next 6-7 years, no detail on responsible agency was mentioned except a statement that the government would be empowered as the sole administrator. This allows the administrative authority to withdraw or spend money freely without the parliament check-and-balance system. The Bill was formulated to provide extraordinary spending procedure that would lead to financial disorder. Former Finance Minister Thanong Pittaya said upon enforcement, the Baht 2 trillion Loan would be excluded from any regular monitoring and assessment system and process. He personally thinks the loan could be secured, by the Finance Minister, according to regular budgetary system. The rapid rail is an efficiently transportation but currently unnecessary to Thailand. Former Finance Minister Teerachai Puvanartnaranuban criticized the Bill on its enormous impact to national finance and monetary system. No details on the Baht 2 trillion expenditures were provided except a 3-page document. The Loan Bill has passed the parliament without proper debate. All project cost were specified in a lump sum and transferable, these would be very hard to control and audit. Most of all, the Bill provided the cabinet would “inform” financial transaction to the parliament while normally state expenditure needs parliamentary approval and endorsement. Finance Minister deputy Permanent Secretary Supa Piyachit said the formulation of the infrastructure projects was done irregularly and bypassed the responsible agency; National Economic and Social Development Board. Though the Loan would become public burden, it has excluded the Finance Ministry’s control mechanism not to follow the public debt law. China cancelled tablet PCs procurement On 30 January, following a notification of fine from failing to deliver on time, Shenzhen Yitoa Intelligent Control, which initially won the bid to provide 804,742 tablet PCs to primary school students in Zones 1 and 2, has initiated termination of its contract reasoning the misinterpretation and inconsistency in TOR and problems on communication between the contracted parties. Caretaker Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang said the procurement had problems on both techniques and procurement methods since it started. The bidder had offered a much lower price, Baht 1,628 million, and unable to provide supplies. Though the Office of Basic Education Commission is eligible to fine the company, the financial compensation is worthless when compare to the students’ one semester year loss of opportunity to use the tablets. Causes of student low IQ An seminar on “Importance of Social Protection on Development and Child Care” held in Chulalongkorn University disclosed several studies done by academicians as follow: Dr. Suriyadeo Tripathi director at the Mahidol University National Institute for Child and Family Development said 30% or one third of Thai children age 0-5 years have slow development in Linguistics, intelligence and social abilities and these were reflected in their low IQ. Causes of child low IQ were; 1) malnutrition due to poverty or teens pregnancy, 2) single-parent; accounted to 30% of total families, and 3) the use of smart phone in children lower than 3 year old. Children intelligent would develop from listening to stories and playing. These activities could be effectively stimulated by parents or day care staffs. Dr. Supasit Pannarunothat dean of Narausuan University’s Faculty of Medicine said children age 0-5 have the most ability to learn. Children brought up in good environment; mentally and physically, have better chance to reach higher education and success in career. A report on Thai educational budget revealed that only 12% or Baht 23,282/person/year was spent on student 0-5 year 54% or Baht 37,194 on elementary schools students. Investment on education for young children should be increased by both central and local government agencies. Dr. Yupayong Hangchaovanich secretariat to the Breastfeeding Promotion Foundation said a lack of day care center, in both urban and rural area, was a cause of children low IQ. There are only 18 centers In Bangkok Metropolitan and none in the provinces. Working rural parents had no choice but leaving their children with grandparents and this was another cause to intelligent deficiency. |
 |
