All smiles as Yingluck makes her debut

BALI, INDONESIA : Compared to the bitter exchange of barbs over the Thai-Cambodian border dispute that overshadowed the 18th Asean Summit in May in Jakarta, the opening session of the leaders' summit here yesterday was a completely different story.

As Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra attended her first-ever Asean Summit, walking side by side at one stage with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, there were smiles all around, including from Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The contrast was striking. At the May summit, Hun Sen upset the Thai delegation when he attacked Thailand during his opening remarks at the plenary session. Abhisit Vejjajiva, then prime minister, responded.

Almost immediately after the leaders' meeting mediated by Mr Yudhoyono on the sidelines, the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers called press conferences to point the finger of blame at each other.

But at the opening session of the 19th Asean Summit yesterday, not a word was mentioned about the Thai-Cambodian border dispute. There was sympathy all around as Asean leaders welcomed their newest member, Ms Yingluck.

With her government still grappling with the devastation caused by severe floods, plus controversy over the planned draft decree for royal pardons, Ms Yingluck pushed for Asean support for greater cooperation in tackling flooding.

Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said the prime minister urged her colleagues to support the Thai initiative for a joint statement on cooperation on flood prevention, mitigation, relief, recovery and rehabilitation.

Ms Yingluck said Asean defence ministers at their meeting in Pattaya in 2009 had agreed that they would use military equipment to help those suffering from natural disasters.

She thanked member countries who had come to Thailand's assistance.

"Everyone [Asean leaders] agreed with the Thai proposal as it is consistent with the spirit of cooperation among member countries experiencing natural disasters, especially after the tsunami of 2004," Mr Surin said.

The leaders agreed that disaster relief and assistance following natural disasters were crucial issues and they would be raised at the East Asia Summit as well as during Asean-Russia and Asean-US dialogue discussions.

Mr Surin said the main office of the Asean Humanitarian Assistance Office would be set up in Jakarta and also have offices in each of the Asean capitals.

"Thailand is crucial to Asean. It is the second-largest economy behind Indonesia. Thailand is a centre of business and investment. 

Whatever happens to Thailand affects the supply line, affects many countries and all countries, especially those involved in the electronics, automobile and food industries. It also affects growth in the region," he said.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told the Bangkok Post yesterday that the prime minister had explained how her government would rehabilitate the country after the floods.

"But most importantly she stressed that Thailand proposed the joint statement on disaster mitigation. Based on this experience, it was time for Asean to strengthen its cooperation because it the flooding has an impact on food security that affects many countries. 

All agreed and we asked for support for what we had proposed. I am confident all countries will support us," he said.

With regard to the cordial atmosphere at yesterday's meeting, the foreign minister said: "The prime minister mentioned that Thailand is now back on the democratic path and she explained the government's reconciliation efforts."

Today Ms Yingluck will hold bilateral talks with the leaders of Japan and China.

"There are more than 400 Japanese companies in Thailand and they would like tax exemptions for imported equipment and easier issuance of work permits and visas for their Japanese staff. 

They are concerned about the rehabilitation of infrastructure such as power, water and roads," Mr Surapong said.

With China, the prime minister is expected to discuss boosting investments. The Chinese are also expected to raise South China Sea territorial issues.

"There are differences over this issue," the foreign minister said, adding that Thailand supports the freedom and safe transport of goods."

Ms Yingluck will discuss disaster relief with US President Barack Obama.

Mr Surapong said the floods have shown how important Thailand is to the global production and supply chain.

"We have wasted so many years in unproductive politics. The US and China lend considerable importance to Asean and both countries have seen Thailand's role in the past," he said.

"Both countries want Thailand to return to that role."

Pardon timing quizzed Chamber calls move 'strange' during floods

Business leaders are uncomfortable with the cabinet's approval of draft royal decree for a royal pardon that could include Thaksin Shinawatra, saying it could add political risk at a time when businesses are already suffering from floods.

''It sounds strange to do a thing like this as it is not the appropriate time. People are concerned about the flooding,'' said Phongsak Assakul, acting chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

The decree approved by the cabinet on Tuesday would seek pardons for thousands of convicts on the occasion of His Majesty the King's birthday next month. However, it was worded in a way that would include people convicted of corruption, notably the self-exiled former prime minister.

Academics agree: Illegal and dangerous

The first priority for government, said Mr Pongsak, remains to push water out to sea as soon as possible.

If the government cannot manage the flood, people will be increasingly unhappy because the water is becoming polluted now.

''The mood of the people can't be good,'' he said. ''Businesspeople don't want to see the government act like this, though it has the right to propose the decree as well as make political decisions.

''As long as Thailand still has water, rehabilitation and prevention measures will not happen.''

Pornsil Patcharintanakul, the chamber's vice-chairman, said the last thing businesses needed now was a political decision that could provoke protests or even riots.

He said businesses believed the government should stay focused on the big picture and maintain a balance among political, economic and social issues. If the government cannot balance these three elements, it is failing in its political role.

''Businesses feel political risk may return again so the government should rethink [the pardon] and take the opportunity to do it better,'' he said.

''Businesses have severely damaged and have no weapons. The government has to be careful and not underestimate [the impact of its decisions].''

Akapol Sorasuchart, president of the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), suggested the government not stir up any new political conflict again as the country has already suffered a lot from flooding.

Since the end of 2008, the tourism business including the meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition sector (Mice) has suffered a lot of negative effects from political instability.

''We have been hurt severely by the flood crisis and this should be enough. The government should focus on its reconstruction plans to revive the overall economy,'' he said.

Mr Akapol said private operators already had to deal with many business risks, and political risk would re-emerge due to the approval of the royal pardon decree.

As of Nov 15, five Mice events have been cancelled and another 19 are postponed, which means the loss of 3.23 billion baht in Mice revenues.

''Private tourism and Mice operators are trying hard to recover from the flood and we need to see the confidence of foreign tourists restored. But if political problems return, their hope for recovery will disappear,'' Mr Akapol said.

The TCEB and Mice operators have launched a campaign called ''Together We Fight for Thailand'' to help restore confidence, with a budget of 40 million baht. 

Operators hope to see government agencies and private firms to spend more on meetings to spur domestic activity after the floods.

Thai Industries Sentiment Index sinks to 26-month low in October

The Thai Industries Sentiment Index (TISI) in October fell to 89.0 from 90.7 in September, hitting a 26-month low, due to the country’s flood crisis, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

FTI Chairman Payungsak Chartsuthipol said the index, calculated based on a survey of 732 industrial operators in 40 industries, dropped in terms of purchase orders, total sales, production, and operating costs as a result of the Thailand’s worst recorded flooding.

The decline impacted the Thai economy overall, particularly the flood-hit manufacturing sector, as industrial estates in the central provinces of Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani as well as nearby areas were submerged. 

The flooded industrial zones house major industrial production centres, including automotive, automobile spare parts, electrical appliances and electronic parts factories, which have currently been damaged by the inundation.

The flooding also affected the production of related industrial sectors, employment and income of workers, according to the FTI. The statistical drop reflected slow domestic consumption oveall.

As the water clogging main roads disrupted or delayed goods deliveries, disrupted traffic caused shortages of consumer products during the flooding.

According to the survey, entrepreneurs are concerned about post-flood industrial rehabilitation, shortages of raw materials and possible price hikes on raw materials.

The October index sliding below the benchmark of 100 means that industrial operators felt pessimistic about their overall operations.

Meanwhile, the Thai Industries Sentiment Index in the next three months was projected to edge up to 101.3, from the 94.0 forecast in the previous month.

However, Mr Payungsak said that most entrepreneurs agreed that the government should rebuild investor confidence in a prevention measure against the possible flooding in the future, delay implementation of the 300 Bath a day minimum wage, speed up relieving flood-stricken industrial manufacturers, resolve labour shortages, provide low-interest loan sources for the affected operators and deal with the shortages and rising prices of raw materials.

Activists oppose government's move on amnesty decree

BANGKOK, Nov 17 – The leader of Thailand's so-called multi-coloured shirted group on Thursday submitted a letter to the Council of State opposing the government’s revised decree on royal pardons for convicts, saying the amended decree would benefit fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Dr Tul Sitthisomwong, coordinator of the group, launched his move after Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, reportedly endorsed an amnesty decree for the occasion of the 84th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol.

The letter was submitted via Sirinan Pansemsri, a senior officer of the Council of State.

Ms Sirinan said she would forward the letter to the secretary-general of the Council of State, but as of Thursday, the council had not yet received the revised draft from the cabinet.

Dr Tul said the revised decree opened way for convicts to seek royal pardons without serving jail terms, reducing the imprisonment period from actually serving one year to holding 2 or 3 years of conviction, and allowing those who have been convicted of particular charges such as corruption, earlier disqualified from seeking amnesty, to apply for it.

"The changes make Mr Thaksin eligible to apply for a royal pardon," said the activist leader.

Dr Tul stated the multi-coloured group acted to formally submit the complaint to the Council of State as the cabinet move was considered "inappropriate" and benefits only one person. It is also against the rule of law, he said, under which law enforcement should be equally applied to everyone.

The activist said the multi-coloured group will rally at Lumpini Park Friday evening to inform the public of the government's move on the amnesty draft.

The group will also submit a petition signed by those who oppose the attempt to seek a pardon for the ousted premier to Justice Minister Pracha Promnog at Government House on Nov 22 as he is in charge of the matter.

The Opposition also lodged a fresh motion asking Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra about the matter during the house session on Thursday.

The premier, however, was not present at the Parliament session, but instead assigned deputy premier Chalerm to clarify the matter on her behalf.

Mr Chalerm insisted the details of the decree could not be made public as doing so is tantamount to violation of the law and would put anyone who discusses it at risk of being impeached.

He told Parliament that the amnesty decree did not aim to help any particular person and that it is in compliance with the law.

Clinton sees flood evacuees on quick Thailand trip

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton talks to a Thai family during a visit to an evacuation center for flood victims in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011. 

Clinton announced a $10 million aid package for flood-ravaged Thailand on Wednesday during a visit to express solidarity as flooding continued to plague areas around Bangkok

Miss Earth 201pageant moves from Bangkok to Manila

The environmentally-based beauty pageant has moved back to Manila

In the wake of dangerous flooding throughout a large portion of Thailand, including reaching the Thailand capital of Bangkok, pageant organizers decided to move the pageant back to its home base of Manila, Philippines.

The 11th edition of the Miss Earth competition will have all 90 contestants begin arriving in Manila Thursday, Nov 17.

According to Carousel Productions, Inc. President, Ramon Monzon, "After careful consideration, it is with regret that we have decided to cancel the scheduled Miss Earth 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand and transfer the event to Manila, Philippines even at this late stage. 

I believe it would have been insensitive and even irresponsible to go ahead with the event in Bangkok at this time considering the calamity that has befallen Bangkok. 

We informed our Thai Licensee, PD Creations, of this decision and they agreed and accepted the same. We are presently discussing their request to host Miss Earth in 2012 or 2013 in lieu of this year."

The 11th edition of the Miss Earth competition will have all 90 contestants begin arriving in Manila Nov 17. Coronation Night will be on Saturday, December 3, 2011.

Miss Philippines Earth 2011: Athena Mae Imperial

Carousel Executive Vice-President, Lorraine Schuck says the environmental advocacy-driven pageant will have even more meaning this year. Schuck says, 

"Through the Miss Earth Foundation, we will have more activities that will increase awareness on the worldwide impact of climate change. 

The situation in Thailand is an example of what can happen if we do not take the necessary measures to save the environment."

Govt takes dangerous path

A secret Cabinet meeting, shockingly missed by the PM, debates amnesty decree, seen as a ruse to secure a pardon for Thaksin while the country is plunged in battling its worst floods.

Who says the timing was bad? With the Yingluck government's rating threatening to nosedive, will "later" be better than "now"? 

In other words, if you were the prime minister, being attacked left and right, the most controversial thing you wanted to pull off should probably be done while you still could.

And the floods would make it difficult to mobilize street protests. To add to that, there's a pressing deadline issue as well. 

His Majesty the King's birthday anniversary is only about three weeks away. It's now or never for Yingluck Shinawatra, or Thaksin Shinawatra to be exact.

What the Thai public know as of now is that there was a closed-door discussion on Tuesday among certain ministers and high-ranking officials. 

At that meeting, the government pushed for some special clauses for this year's amnesty to mark the King's birthday. 

Those clauses, which reportedly would qualify people convicted of corruption and drug trade for the amnesty, would mark a break from tradition and certainly would be scrutinized for possible violation of the charter.

What happened on Tuesday was mostly shrouded in mystery. The secret Cabinet meeting was not chaired by Yingluck, who happened to be "stranded" in Sing Buri because the helicopter that had taken her there during the day was allegedly not well-equipped to fly in the dark. 

Assigned to chair the Cabinet meeting on her behalf was Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who happened to be the government's front man spearheading moves to seek amnesty for those affected by years of political turmoil.

The draft amnesty decree must be vetted by the Council of State, which faces the unenviable task of plugging any legal loophole, especially when it comes to the Constitution that prohibits making the laws for any individual. 

The Council of State also encounters the challenge of overcoming the highly sticky point about Thaksin never serving a single day of his two-year jail sentence.

"The pardon issue is confidential although I can say the government will not do anything illegally [to rescue Thaksin]," Chalerm said yesterday. 

He side-stepped a direct question on whether the Cabinet had approved and forwarded the draft decree for royal endorsement. He only said there was no conclusion drawn on the issue.

According to Chalerm, Yingluck did not plan in advance to be absent from the crucial Cabinet meeting, although her presence would have put her on the spot.

Chalerm's claims were countered by still-unconfirmed reports that Government House had sought a "two-day" service of a military helicopter for her trip to Sing Buri.

Issuing the amnesty decree would be just clearing the first obstacle. Once the decree is in place, there will be the issue of how to put Thaksin in the scheme. 

To sum it up, the whole process involves the Justice Minister forming a panel, comprising more than 20 members, to recommend the scope and details of the pardon, the Cabinet finalising the draft, the Council of State vetting any controversial provisions, and last but not least, the government deciding who will be the 26,000 convicts who will benefit.

Chalerm declined to say whether the pardon would be applicable to Thaksin, although he lashed out at an unnamed Cabinet member for leaking the news about the secret meeting to the media. 

He said he was in no position to speculate on the issue because the granting of pardon was the exercise of royal power.

He said the government would comment on the decree only after the provisions were enacted and enforced. "The decree for pardon is not entirely under the government's jurisdiction and the final outcome might not be in line with what the government said at a time," he said.

Under the Criminal Procedural Code and legal precedents, past cases of pardon applied to convicts serving time in prison. The pro-Thaksin camp has argued there is no law banning the pardon from being extended to those who have been convicted but have eluded punishment. 

It will be up to the Council of State to make sure controversial provisions wanted by the Cabinet won't embarrass the government or become a legal time bomb later.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok and a number of Cabinet members reportedly said they would await the royal discretion on whether to grant a pardon to Thaksin rather than force the royal decision on the issue. 

In the draft proposed by Pracha, those eligible for pardon would include convicts aged more than 60 with less than three-year jail term and no prior offense.

The Cabinet decided to delete certain clauses enforced in 2010 in order to extend the pardon to those convicted for drug trade and corruption.

Reports about the upcoming amnesty overshadowed the flood disaster, with opposition MPs, critics and anti-Thaksin elements in the social media in a major uproar. Demcrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the opposition would not condone the hasty and suspicious move to help Thaksin elude the law. 

He and other opposition MPs warned that letting Thaksin walk free despite his continuous contempt for the Thai justice system that convicted him would set a destructive precedent. 

"A pardon should only be granted to those who are incarcerated and show remorse," Abhisit said, insisting that the government was about to undermine the rule of law by granting pardon to a convict like Thaksin who refuses to serve time or show remorse.

The opposition will do its utmost to object to the Thaksin pardon, he said, threatening to block every step of the pardon process.

Law lecturer Kaewsun Atibodhi said the government had seriously erred by trying to seek a pardon for Thaksin who is a fugitive. 

He said he was puzzled why the government would want to pardon convicts on corruption and trafficking, offenses deemed Thailand's biggest problems even when Thaksin was PM. 

Pardon is an issue under the sole jurisdiction of the government, he said, reminding Cabinet members they might face impeachment even though the judicial and legislative powers could not stop them from pardoning Thaksin.

Conflict over barriers a sign of divide

The recent deployment of the big-bag dyke by the government has come to represent a very visible aspect of a top-down, centralized approach that ignores the issues of justice and fairness.

The big bag flood-wall has become a symbol of what is wrong and unjust about Thailand's national development over the past decades.

Since Sunday, a few groups of disgruntled residents who are negatively affected because they live on the "wrong" side of the flood-wall have decided to protest and destroy some of the one-tonne bags and no one knows when such actions will cease for good.

The Yingluck Shinawatra administration and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration have failed utterly to articulate or explain the need for people on the other side to accept more water in order to save inner Bangkok.

Out of the blue, one day authorities just decided that big bags will be the saviour of the inner city and the unlucky folks outside the barriers will just have to put up with more water.

This happened with no advance consultation and no fair compensation being offered from the outset.

It took weeks before people in both the fringes of Bangkok like Don Muang and north of Bangkok in Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka district to decide that they had been unfairly made to sacrifice in silence and that they must do something about it.

Prior to that most of the Bangkok-based national media paid little or no interest in the justice and fairness issues of the big bags, that is, until the big bags were removed or destroyed, threatening the inner city with a deluge.

Yes, society can't exist as a society if its members are unwilling to sacrifice when there's a need to save the majority or the strategic parts of society.

But again, there can be no society when people who are not regarded as important are neglected and forced to endure more suffering and hardships without justice and fairness so that the rich people in the central part of the capital can go on enjoying their lives as usual.

The lesson of the big bag conflict is that Thai society is fragmented and not democratic or just enough in seeking solutions.

Earlier this week, when the big bags were first dismantled by angry residents in the Don Muang area, the Post Today newspaper was quick to run a scary main front-page headline stating, "Fallen Heaven" (sawan loem).

This suggests that Bangkok is heaven while the rest may not be as celestial and those outside Bangkok may see it differently.

Although the news pictures of people taking matters into their own hands and defying the authorities' "solution" are disturbing to many, they can also be interpreted as ordinary folks increasingly rejecting top-down government "solutions" that they have no say in.

They could even be considered a positive sign for the future of participatory democracy.

The authorities will have to adapt and come up with a more convincing solution that takes the interests of not just the central business district of Bangkok into consideration if they're to avoid more resistance.

The centralization of Bangkok as a primate city which dominates the rest of the Kingdom will also have to be reviewed as more and more people are saying they will not accept the idea of unconditionally placing Bangkok above the rest at all cost as it was clearly shown in the conflict.

The claim that since Bangkok is the center of virtually everything, it must be saved and receive more preferential treatment than others, is in a way an unjust and self-perpetuating remark if it comes without a genuine attempt to decentralize power and wealth to other parts of the country.

Such a ethos has increasingly become the very thing that generates resentment.

Initial brief prepares command element

BANGKOK, Thailand - Service members attached to the III Marine Expeditionary Force flood relief command element gathered together for an initial meeting with their senior leaders for an overview of what’s to be expected during their flood relief operations with the Royal Government of Thailand here Nov. 15.

Brig. Gen. Craig C. Crenshaw, commander, III Marine Expeditionary Force Flood Relief Command Element, gives his commander’s intent to experts in various functional areas during an initial brief here Nov. 15. In coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok and the Royal Government of Thailand, U.S. Pacific Command directed theater service components to conduct joint operations in support of disaster assessment and relief operations in Thailand. III MEF Flood Relief Command Element consists of U.S. forces from Okinawa, Japan, which will provide command and control for additional U.S. forces to assist the Royal Government of Thailand.

Directed by the U.S. Pacific Command, III MEF deployed Marines and sailors to conduct flood relief assessment and to execute specific tasks associated with disaster mitigation – which may include providing follow-on service members and capabilities. The command element is responsible for providing the command and control of U.S. forces working with and assisting the Thai government.

“The relationship we have with the Thai government is extremely important,” said Brig. Gen. Craig C. Crenshaw, commander, III MEF flood relief command element. “We are here to assist and we’re going to assist in any manner that is appropriate that the Thai government asks of us.”

The initial brief allowed all the senior leaders to reiterate what the mission is and the commander’s intent.

“It’s very important we establish who is who and what our big mission is,” said Sgt. Maj. Lawrence P. Fineran, command element sergeant major. “We are here to assess what’s going on and ensure we’re ready when called upon for any follow on missions.”

During the overview, Crenshaw expressed to service members the importance of their role during the operation and explained how vital each skill set is.

“I believe we have all the right skill sets here to make this operation successful,” said Crenshaw. “The challenge is being able to mold that together and put each individual in the right focus area.”

A few of the command element’s responsibilities are to conduct medical and engineering assessments and to assess major flooded area in coordination with the Royal Government of Thailand.

The command element is composed of joint U.S. forces in various fields of expertise to provide command and control of additional U.S. forces.

“At the end of this operation, we’re going to say that we were successful in assisting the Thai government, ” said Crenshaw.

Thailand Bangkok Plans to Dredge Canals in Western Part of City

The Bangkok governor says canals in the western part of the city must be dredged to increase drainage capacity.

Meanwhile, he has placed eight communities in Bang Kapi District on the flood watch list.

Those eight Bang Kapi communities are Wang Yai, Wang Som, Samakkhi Pattana, Lamsalee, Lamsalee Pattana, Yoo Sabai housing estate, Matcha and Pracha Ruamjai.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said floodwater from the northern part of Bangkok is continuing to flow into the district via the Saen Saeb Canal and smaller nearby canals namely Ban Ma, Lamsalee and Hua Mak Noi.

He advised residents to relocate their belongings and electrical sockets to higher spots and evacuate family members who may need emergency aid such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those who are ill.

The governor added floods on the Thonburi side have begun to subside but many parts of the capital are still reeling under heavy flooding, such as Don Muang and Chatuchak districts, as water in the Prem Prachakorn Canal continues to overflow.

He went on to say the water in the upper part of the Lad Phrao Canal in Sai Mai District continues to swell from its embankment, but floods in Soi Senanikhom and Soi Ladprao 56 are receding.

In Bangplad District, the water level has gone down by 10 to 15 centimeters, but several parts are still submerged with high water.

Sukhumbhand expects the floodwater at Bangbamru Railway Station will recede in one or two days.

The governor stated the water on Sirindhorn Road will be drained into Bangkok Noi Canal and water pumps will installed on Charunsanitwong Road to curb floods at the section between Yanhi Hospital and Lotus Superstore.

Regarding west Bangkok, he said King Rama II Road remains passable, but some of its sidestreets are submerged under 5 or 10 centimeters of water.

He added that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will coordinate with the Flood Relief Operation Center and have the Army send its personnel to dredge Ratchamontri, Sanamchai, Saemdam, and Khunrathcphanijchai canals, to boost drainage capacity.

Regarding registration for Bangkok residents seeking compensation from the government through its district offices, the governor has instructed officials to skip unnecessary paperwork processes such as submission of photos of flood-ravaged homes and written police complaints.

He said those who are unable to present domicile registries can ask their district offices to use their database to verify the authenticity of the information.

The governor advised all flood-hit residents to submit their petitions at Bangkok district offices as soon as possible so the BMA can forward them for the Interior Ministry’s approval before December 22.