New northern bus terminal to move from Morchit to Rangsit
The Transport Ministry has chosen the Rangsit area, far away from the city center on the northern edge of Bangkok, as the location for a new 80 rai northern and northeastern inter-provincial bus terminal.
Meanwhile, the currently used 70-rai Mor Chit 2 terminal will be downsized to a 16.43-rai facility serving short-haul, non-scheduled buses and public vans. Construction of the new terminal is expected to start next year and last for two years with service at the new terminal starting by 2018.
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TOURISM SAFETY
Police raids continue against gem scam jewelry stores
Khao Sod English
Last week police raided three jewelry stores in the Dusit district of Bangkok and arrested 21 people in connection with a notorious tourist scam. Financial documents were also confiscated for investigation. The action was taken after police received many complaints from foreign tourists about gem scams. Estimated damage to tourists runs at over 100 million baht.
The scam would typically run as follows. Tuk-tuk drivers told foreign tourists that tourist attractions such the Grand Palace were closed and offered them a tour around the city for a very attractive price. If they said yes, they were instead brought to many jewelry stores where they were cheated by salespeople who sold them poor quality jewellery and gemstones at high prices for more than they were really worth. Once they were cheated, they could get their money back (refund).
Managers at the three jewelery stores that were raided have been charged with violating Thailand's consumer protection law and 21 tuk-tuk drivers have also been arrested. The police have also informed them that from now on, these scams will no longer be tolerated and they will face criminal charges as well as tax investigations. 22 people were arrested in similar raids back in May.
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ILLEGAL FISHING
Fishing trawler mafia & why law enforcement, & not just more laws, is needed
Sanitsuda Ekachai
"Illegal fishing gear must go," declared the director-general of the Fisheries Department. Following the threat from the European Union (EU) to boycott Thai seafood products, the response was a new law and regulations to get rid of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing which had been going on for decades without any state supervision. But without a revamp in the government bureaucracy that regulates fishing, will the new laws really be enforced? Will the seas around Thailand really be saved from environmentally destructive fishing trawlers?
In 1980, a Fishery Department report pointed out the Thai seas could accommodate only about 2,400 trawlers. In 1981, the department stopped giving licences for bottom trawling, but nearly 7,000 trawlers broke the law; and that is most likely a very conservative estimate. The law also prohibits trawlers from operating within 3km of the shores. Yet trawlers routinely ravage the coastal seas without intervention from fisheries authorities. A big operator in Songkhla admitted his fleet had to violate neighbouring territorial waters after trawlers had depleted the Thai seas of all fish.
Despite the fisheries boss's tough talk against illegal fishing equipment, the new law does not actually prohibit destructive fishing; it still allows bottom trawling if they have proper licences. The department has failed miserably to protect the seas from overfishing. The record of the government bureaucracy that oversees fishing is extremely bad, resulting in a breakdown in state regulation of commercial trawlers. Fisheries officials are also known to have cosy relationships with trawler operators. If the the new top-down fishery laws are anything to go by, the military regime will not reforming government bureaucracy but rather making existing corrupt practices even stronger.
New northern bus terminal to move from Morchit to RangsitThe Transport Ministry has chosen the Rangsit area, far away from the city center on the northern edge of Bangkok, as the location for a new 80 rai northern and northeastern inter-provincial bus terminal. Meanwhile, the currently used 70-rai Mor Chit 2 terminal will be downsized to a 16.43-rai facility serving short-haul, non-scheduled buses and public vans. Construction of the new terminal is expected to start next year and last for two years with service at the new terminal starting by 2018.Read full story hereTOURISM SAFETYPolice raids continue against gem scam jewelry storesKhao Sod EnglishLast week police raided three jewelry stores in the Dusit district of Bangkok and arrested 21 people in connection with a notorious tourist scam. Financial documents were also confiscated for investigation. The action was taken after police received many complaints from foreign tourists about gem scams. Estimated damage to tourists runs at over 100 million baht. The scam would typically run as follows. Tuk-tuk drivers told foreign tourists that tourist attractions such the Grand Palace were closed and offered them a tour around the city for a very attractive price. If they said yes, they were instead brought to many jewelry stores where they were cheated by salespeople who sold them poor quality jewellery and gemstones at high prices for more than they were really worth. Once they were cheated, they could get their money back (refund).Managers at the three jewelery stores that were raided have been charged with violating Thailand's consumer protection law and 21 tuk-tuk drivers have also been arrested. The police have also informed them that from now on, these scams will no longer be tolerated and they will face criminal charges as well as tax investigations. 22 people were arrested in similar raids back in May.Read full story hereILLEGAL FISHINGFishing trawler mafia & why law enforcement, & not just more laws, is neededSanitsuda Ekachai"Illegal fishing gear must go," declared the director-general of the Fisheries Department. Following the threat from the European Union (EU) to boycott Thai seafood products, the response was a new law and regulations to get rid of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing which had been going on for decades without any state supervision. But without a revamp in the government bureaucracy that regulates fishing, will the new laws really be enforced? Will the seas around Thailand really be saved from environmentally destructive fishing trawlers? In 1980, a Fishery Department report pointed out the Thai seas could accommodate only about 2,400 trawlers. In 1981, the department stopped giving licences for bottom trawling, but nearly 7,000 trawlers broke the law; and that is most likely a very conservative estimate. The law also prohibits trawlers from operating within 3km of the shores. Yet trawlers routinely ravage the coastal seas without intervention from fisheries authorities. A big operator in Songkhla admitted his fleet had to violate neighbouring territorial waters after trawlers had depleted the Thai seas of all fish.Despite the fisheries boss's tough talk against illegal fishing equipment, the new law does not actually prohibit destructive fishing; it still allows bottom trawling if they have proper licences. The department has failed miserably to protect the seas from overfishing. The record of the government bureaucracy that oversees fishing is extremely bad, resulting in a breakdown in state regulation of commercial trawlers. Fisheries officials are also known to have cosy relationships with trawler operators. If the the new top-down fishery laws are anything to go by, the military regime will not reforming government bureaucracy but rather making existing corrupt practices even stronger.
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