marcosolo, 22. Mai 2003 um 21:12:52 MESZ

WAR ON DARK INFLUENCE

Motorcycle taxi mafia extort B1.2bn a year

Registration plan to ease their grip

Manop Thip-osod Porpot Changyawa

Gangs controlling motorcycle taxis in Bangkok earn at least 100 million baht a month from fees imposed on more than 1,800 motorcycle-taxi queues.

That lucrative business is threatened by the government's anti-mafia drive.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau has found 1,838 motorcycle-taxi queues work on minor roads and in housing estates.

An unofficial survey estimates the city has at least 100,000 motorcycle taxis. As drivers pay a daily fee of 30-50 baht to their controllers, the gangs are probably making 100 million baht a month, or 1.2 billion baht a year.

Taxi motorcyclists say some of the money goes to police. They hailed the government's plan to free them from the influential controllers.

Prasert Pumnarai, 31, who works on Charansanitwong soi 45 road, said he paid 4,000 baht for a queue vest and a daily fee of 40 baht to Sompote Homchong, the queue controller.

He had to pay the daily fee even when he was sick. The woman would not allow him to send a replacement.

``We know well who our money goes to. Police are among the recipients.

``This is true for all queues. Without the payment, they cannot exist,'' Mr Prasert said.

He would be happier to pay 30 baht a day to the state.

Mrs Sompote denied she referred the money to police.

Mongkol Srisuwan, 26, said that excluding his daily fee of 50 baht, he earned about 200 baht a day.

In his queue there were about 300 motorcycles and the controller was probably earning 450,000 baht a month.

Somkiart Pasunai, 38, said his queue vest was 6,000 baht. He pays daily instalments for the vest and a daily service fee of 20 baht.

``Our daily expenses are high but we have no option.''

Bangkok Governor Samak Sudaravej said the riders would have to register with the district authority and he would put a lid on their number.

City officials would work with metropolitan police to find out the precise number of motorcycle taxis and their stands around the city.

``There will not be any more taxi motorcycles popping up after this survey,'' he said.

On Tuesday the prime minister agreed to put money from the Government Lottery Office into buying uniform vests for all Bangkok taxi motorcyclists to show they had registered with the authority.

Taxi motorcyclists would have to register at district offices for a licence, approved by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and police.

Motorcyclists might have to pay a small fee to register or renew their licences.

``Registration will help `liberate' motorcyclists from having to pay controllers,'' Mr Samak said.

Sangsidh Piriyarangsan, vice-chairman of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, said registration of taxi motorcyclists was not enough to rid them of the people who took advantage of them.

Registration would result in motorcyclists paying local officials instead of people wielding mafia-type influence.

``The government should legalise taxi motorcycles by registering them with the Labour Ministry to provide them with social welfare and bring them under the tax system,'' Mr Sangsidh said.

 

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marcosolo, 20. Mai 2003 um 19:59:06 MESZ

HUMAN RIGHTS Jilani will not look into drugs deaths

UN officer says she won't exceed remit

Anjira Assavanonda

Hina Jilani, the special representative of the United Nations secretary-general on human rights, now in the country, says she is not here to look into extra-judicial killings.

Her task was to examine the situation of human rights defenders and enhance the protection of their rights.

``My mission is to deal with the roles of human rights defenders, and their ability to raise the issues is certainly my mandate,'' said Ms Jilani.

A previous visit fixed in February was postponed with the government saying it was too busy to meet her.

The government's three-month crackdown on drug dealers was criticised by human rights activists. About 2,300 people were killed in the campaign. Activists blame law enforcement officers. Police said it was merely a case of drug dealers killing each other.

Ms Jilani, on a 10-day mission ending next Tuesday, said it was not her mandate to investigate those killings.

She was here to look at legislative protection available to human rights defenders, mechanisms to protect and support them, access to funding for human rights work, and mechanisms to promote consultation between state authorities and civil society.

Ms Jilani hoped her meeting with the prime minister and Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai today would help them understand that she had no intention to ``stepping out of her mandate.''

Asked why Thailand was the first country in the region she chose to visit, she said the country had been recognised for its ability to host human rights activities, but conceded concerns had been raised at the same time about the plight of human rights defenders here.

``My particular concern in Thailand is to look at the right to associate, the right to assemble, freedom of expression and the right to protest,'' said Ms Jilani.

She would also meet other government ministers, as well as senior figures in the judiciary, police and military and travel to Chiang Mai and Hat Yai to meet local authorities, NGOs and human rights defenders.

Her findings will be published in a report to the UN Commission on Human Rights in April 2004. She hoped her recommendations would be heeded by the government as Thailand was the first Asian country to support the UN Declaration of Human Rights Defenders adopted in 1998.

 

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marcosolo, 14. Mai 2003 um 21:13:37 MESZ

We hurt ourselves by remaining silent

The catchy part of the defence of the prime minister by the spokesman of his political party was the dismissal of Thirayuth Boonmi as a Romantic who ``tries'' but, by implication, cannot quite grasp, the ideas of post-Modernism. But by making such distinctions, the spokesman himself shows his failure to grasp what it is to be post-Modern. For in one broad sense of the term, post-Modernism challenges borders, among them those governing time and category.

Mr Thirayuth probably would not mind being labelled a Romantic. Most idealists and seekers of change tend towards the ultimate. But is he trying to present post-Modern concepts when he advocates a post-Western approach to Thai society and literature? As those who have followed his work from his student days understand it, Mr Thirayuth is simply advocating an appreciation of Thai values for what they are, and urging restraint from blind submission to Western values.

Another, less charitable reaction argues that the university lecturer leans towards the Democrat party. This is about as misguided as the Chart Pattana party's attempt to have him speak at an upcoming party function. Political parties have tried time and again to lure the former student leader into politics. And time and again he has declined.

Mr Thirayuth might read the actions of the prime minister's underlings as meaning he has accomplished one important task, that of convincing government members of the need for introspection. Wisely, the prime minister, who was in France when Mr Thirayuth made his observations, has made no direct reference to the comments. But he was surely unhappy with the media attention to Mr Thirayuth's address on Sunday as part of the celebrations marking Pridi Day, dedicated to late statesman Pridi Banomyong.

What the critic said has long been on many minds. The cogency of the message came from its clarity, composition and delivery. This government tries to present itself as a generous provider. But it does so using the public's money by drawing on funds meant for their future. Mr Thirayuth was more forthcoming than in recent years, when he has confined himself to one in-depth analysis a year. And it can be lost on no one who has followed his work that there must be good reason.

His critics might accuse him of trying to play the hero, of reliving his role in the events of Oct 14, 1973. But only the most narrow-minded or politically myopic would not draw some parallel between the political environment today and that of 30 years ago. The only difference is today's aspiring absolute ruler wears civilian clothing. We are again in an age when challenges to authority are not tolerated. Members of the media, academia or civil society with minds of their own are unconstructive, boring or follow somebody else's agenda. Small to medium businessmen are patronised, and executives higher up the scale are increasingly disenchanted with what they see as curbs on free commerce. The war on sinister influences has a barely concealed agenda, that of eliminating figures able to challenge the authority of the political elite.

Each of these actions is having a boomerang effect. It is drawing out people who think and feel. The media, academics and civil society should encourage this movement. By no means should any caring person remain silent, not when misguided forces are on the warpath against legitimate individuals or causes. Individuals and groups can show their support in different ways. We must proclaim that no mere mortal can be allowed to decide the fate of another without a proper jury. Romantics inspire by virtue of their ideals. Those who think they are post-Modern but have missed the boat only appear ridiculous.

 

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