The Vongthip Letter Aug ‘10

Looking more like 46 now?! With the extra heavy cares and woes that he has been experiencing in the last 20 months, PM Abhisit has certainly matured before our eyes. In 7/10 he was given hell by the yellow shirts for failing to take drastic actions to claim back the land surrounding the Preah Vihear temple. The private sector too was more than frustrated by the (30%) corruption prevailing among his cabinet members and their bureaucrat underlings. Notwithstanding the seemingly quieter political atmosphere, PM Abhisit simply could not go against the CRES’ advice to keep the emergency decree on.

There was constant threat of violence, lurking between isolated small bombing incidents in the city. On 9/7/10 the Election Committee and the Attorney General jointly asked the constitution court to dissolve the Democrat Party for accepting a THB 258 million unlawful donation and for misusing the THB 29 million election-campaign funds in 2006. A wave of panic swept through the Democrats and their voters at the prospect of PM Abhisit being banned from politics for five years. The private sector too was dismayed by the possibility of losing once again the country’s credibility, stability and continuity. Many believed a new PM at this point of time would do more harm than good to the fragile morale and confidence of the people at home and abroad.

Keeping his cool: Notwithstanding the continued threats to unseat him, PM Abhisit went about his business as usual. Healthcare subsidy was increased to THB 2,546 (from THB 2,401) per head. The 7% VAT was extended for another two years until 9/12. The amnesty legislation for illegal war weapon possessors was readied for parliament session in 8/10. The emergency decree was lifted in 28 provinces by end of 7/10. PM Abhisit called on the management of key newspapers to hear their views on media reform and to seek their active support for his reconciliation plan.

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August 6, 2010 | Filed Under Business & Economics, Politics, Property & Investment, The Vongthip Letters | 4 Comments 

The Vongthip Letter July ‘10

Mending the fences: Thanks to FIFA, Thai football fans put away their politically colored shirts to spend sleepless nights watching the World Cup matches in South Africa. News of favorite teams and players dominated most newspapers and TV screens. An avid football fan himself, PM Abhisit has, however, managed to accomplish most of what he had promised. On 7/6/10 he left for half a day trip to Vietnam, to attend the World Economic Forum and meet up with Asean leaders at the Greater Mekong Subregion summit meeting. He took the opportunity to brief world’s business leaders of the current political situation in Thailand and to assure them that his government was taking every possible step to restore law and order while moving the country forward toward national reconciliation.

On 7/6/10 he announced another cabinet reshuffle (5th), with eight new ministers mostly from the Democrat Party. Throughout the month, the Abhisit government continued to address the country’s most urgent economic issues i.e. severe El Nino drought (worst in 18 years) that had delayed rice planting by at least six weeks. The Map Ta Phut environmental problems were finally sorted out, with 18 activities to be banned and clearer rules and regulations to become effective by year-end. After years of frozen salaries, civil servants were granted a special bonus to be paid out in 10/10 and a 5% salary increase to be effective in 4/11.

Farmers’ problem loans too were being refinanced or restructured with hefty haircuts. The first lot of community title deeds was given out. Shooting prices of sugar and eggs were promptly addressed and lowered. Rescue package for those affected by the Ratchaprasong shutdown and arson was fine-tuned and extended to include foreign businesses in the area. To ease the burden of the urban poor, free electricity (max. 90 kw), free (hot) bus, free (third class) train and subsidized LPG, were extended till year end, when PM Abhisit hope to make some of them permanent.

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July 8, 2010 | Filed Under Business & Economics, Politics, Property & Investment, The Vongthip Letters | 12 Comments 

The Vongthip Letter Jun ‘10

Bangkok burning: May was a most agonizing month for the people of Thailand. Hardcore red shirts moved ferociously to expand their territory further into Bangkok CBD. With the number of casualties increasing by the day from snipers and M79 grenades, the Abhisit government declared 17-21/5/10 as public holidays in Bangkok, during which Bangkokians stayed put, bracing themselves for further violence. In the early hours of 19/5/10, the army began their offensive manoeuvres to remove red shirt barricades around the Ratchaprasong area.

By early afternoon, the red shirt leaders announced an end to their demonstration and, before giving themselves up at the police headquarters, urged some 3,000 remaining protesters to go home in government’s prepared coaches. Hundreds of protesters, however, refused to leave. They went instead into the temple next door, Wat Pathum Wanaram, to spend the night. Throughout that afternoon and evening, hard core red shirts together with “men in black” were shooting and throwing M79 grenades at the soldiers.

They roamed the city and set fire to some 36 buildings all over Bangkok. That night, the red shirts also burned down the provincial city halls in Ubon, Udon and Khonkaen. Meanwhile, corporate Bangkok kept their cool as they calmly switched on their emergency systems and went on damage control modes. Meanwhile 43 countries issued their strongest warning against traveling to Thailand. The international community was stunned by the violence, unseen before in this “Land of Smiles.”

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June 4, 2010 | Filed Under Business & Economics, Politics, Property & Investment, The Vongthip Letters | 4 Comments 

The Vongthip Letter May ‘10

Long live HM the King: On 5/5/2010, all warring factions in Thailand called for a truce to take time out to celebrate (in their own way) the 60th anniversary of HM the king’s coronation. Once again HM’s loyal subjects were seen shedding tears of joy as they sat watching their beloved king on TV. Their get-well wishes, prayers and merit makings for HM have indeed borne fruits. HM appeared healthy and strong again during the traditional ceremony to mark the historical occasion at the Grand Palace.

No matter how much people fought with one another, they could never forget HM’s plea for national unity whenever he appeared live on TV. Once again, the people’s faith and pride in their national heritage were restored, and national unity and reconciliation seemed to be back within their grasp! Most Thais bowed their heads to thanked heavens for giving them a loving, selfless and wise king who has always put his country above all else.

Another bloody April: Thailand’s messy political unrest was back on world’s TV screens again this April. When the red shirt failed to show up for the third round of negotiation on 8/4/10, PM Abhisit cancelled his trips to Vietnam (Asean Summit Meeting) and to Washington D.C. (world’s first nuclear summit meeting). A state of emergency was declared in the red shirt zones in Bangkok to contain the ballooning red shirt demonstration. On 9/4 more red shirts joined the protest after the government shut down their PTV. Soldiers guarding Thaicom transmitting station were attacked, disarmed and sent away by scores of ferocious red shirts.

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May 7, 2010 | Filed Under Business & Economics, Politics, Property & Investment, The Vongthip Letters | 7 Comments 

The Vongthip Letter Apr ‘10

Abhisit’s red hot summer: March 2010 was indeed a month for a crash course on Thai democracy, not only for the Thai society but also for the international community. Political pundits have been holding their breath for weeks while the Abhisit government tried everything possible to steer the country away from another political breakdown. When the red shirts announced their final D-Day on 12/3/10, PM Abhisit cancelled his trip to Australia & New Zealand that week and went ahead to invoke the Internal Security Act from 11-23/3/10 to prepare for the “red flood” from upcountry into Bangkok.

Since then, some 30,000 soldiers, 10,000 police and 10,000 civilian volunteer forces have been mobilized to provide security at the red shirts rallies as well at scores of prime target spots, as listed out by the red shirts for their mobile visits and for the nocturnal bomb throwers. Soon enough, both local and foreign who-is-who’s came out in full force to voice their concern and plead for non-violence by both the protesters and the government.

Hide and seek game: Throughout the highly volatile situation, PM Abhisit and his cabinet kept their cool and endeavored to continue with their normal work schedules while going out of their way to dodge the red shirts’ highly aggravating mobile expeditions and antagonizing maneuvers e.g. laying siege at the government house, the parliament and the army base where PM Abhisit and his team were lodging and working in a war room to deal with emergency situations as they arose.

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April 8, 2010 | Filed Under Business & Economics, Politics, Property & Investment, The Vongthip Letters | 23 Comments 

The Vongthip Letter Mar ‘10

Beyond reasonable doubts: Thaksin’s “Judgment Day” has become another unforgettable event in the Thai political history. After weeks of being second guessed by academics and political pundits, nine judges of the Supreme Court spent almost eight hours reading their historical verdict which was broadcasted nationwide.

Thaksin was found guilty on all five cases for hiding his family shareholdings behind onshore and offshore nominees during his premiership, for conflict of interest, for abusing his power as head of the government, and for becoming unusually rich as the result of ruthless changes in policies, laws and regulations to benefit his family businesses.

The court ruled that the excess amount of THB 46 billion (out of THB 76 billion that had been frozen since 2006) was to be confiscated by the state. The remaining THB 30 billion would be returned after deduction of related income taxes, fines and other charges due.

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March 5, 2010 | Filed Under Business & Economics, Politics, Property & Investment, The Vongthip Letters | 7 Comments 

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