Week 42 (15th October 2012 – 21st October 2012)

ASEAN Newspapers Issues pertaining to ‐ politics

Number of article(s): 5

Keywords/criteria used for search: Thailand, Thai

Search Engine: www.google.com

Online newspapers included in search: Borneo Bulletin (Brunei) Brunei Times (Brunei) Phnom Penh Post (Cambodia) Post () Jakarta Globe (Indonesia) Vientiane Times (Laos) Vietnam Net (Vietnam) Nhan Dan (Vietnam) The Star (Malaysia) The New Straits Times (Malaysia) The Strait Times () The Philippine Inquirer (Philippines) The Japan Times (Japan) China Daily (China) The China Post (China) The Korean Times (South Korea)

Headlines and Summaries

THE BRUNEI TIMES 4

21 /O CT. / 2012 ­ IN BRIEF: US FEAR OVER THAI RICE DUMPING 'GROUNDLESS’ 4 ‐ Thai Commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom last Friday defended the government’s rice policy, stating that it did not breach any commitments under the WTO. ‐ The comment came after the USA Rice Federation raised a concern with the US Trade Representative Office that it feared Thailand would eventually dump rice on the global market.

THE JAKARTA POST 4

17 /O CT. / 2012 – WTO CHANGES FOCUS TO TRADE FACILITATIONS 4 ‐ According to WTO deputy director general Valentine Rugwabiza, the basic trade facilitation would include easing customs procedures, provide transparency and predictability for the implementation of the procedures and lower costs. ‐ Trade facilitations are seen as essential to emerging countries. According to Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan, her country would support trade facilitation as an area for WTO focus in future negotiations, as it would significantly ease trading of international goods and services. ‐ There exist current deadlock in negotiations over trade barriers since the failed Doha Round in 2008. During the Doha Round, developing countries such as China and India refused to cut import tariffs on industrial goods, while developed markets, led by the US and the European Union, did not want to compromise on measures to protect farmers in poorer countries.

THE NEW STRAIT TIMES 5

15 /O CT. / 2012 – DEBT CRISIS DOMINATES ASIA­EUROPE FINANCE TALKS 5 ‐ Finance officials said Eurozone was set for a gradual recovery from its debt crisis. However ministers expressed their concerns over uncertainties/risks created by volatile financial and commodity markets, stating that this would potentially impact both Asia and Europe. ‐ EU Economics Chief Olli Rehn, expressed his optimism stating that Europe had developed an effective and flexible toolkit to handle the debt crisis. ‐ However, hopes that Asia’s economies would largely remain unaffected by the West’s economic troubles have been doused by a slew of weaker‐ than‐economic data in recent weeks.

CHINA DAILY 7

19 /O CT. / 2012 – US, THAILAND CONDUCT DEFENSE TALKS 7 ‐ According to a Pentagon statement, the discussion at the Defense Strategic Talks reflects an “enduring American and Thai commitment to cooperation and consultation on security issues based on shared priorities and mutual respect”. ‐ During the meetings, both delegations reaffirmed the importance of bilateral and multilateral interoperability and readiness. It furthermore looked forward to the "next steps" for the alliance, including their commitment to continue senior defense dialogues and future senior defense official visits. ‐ Recently, US has shifted its strategic priorities in the Asian Pacific region.

THE CHINA POST 8 21 /O CT. / 2012 – THAILAND TO FIGHT YOUTH DRUG ADDICTION 8 ‐ According to secretary of the National Narcotic Prevention and Suppression Commission, Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoe, a proactive strategy will be employed in order to tackle the drug addiction among youths. ‐ The offensive against drug addiction/drug abuse will start at 12 communities in Klong Toei slum. According to Pol General Pongsapat,over the past year, many big‐time drug dealers had been arrested which has led many youths giving tip to authorities. ‐ According to a recent Dusit Poll, which reveals that a majority of respondents supports the current government’s deputy premier Priephan Damapong to tackle the drugs issue.

The Brunei Times

21 / Oct. / 2012 - In Brief: US fear over Thai rice dumping 'groundless’

BANGKOK: Thai Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom on Friday vehemently defended the government's rice‐pledging policy, saying it had not breached any commitment under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as the measure was aimed solely at helping domestic farmers. He also insisted that Thailand had no intention of dumping rice in the world market. To the contrary, it wants to push up rice prices to boost farmers' incomes, he said. The comment came after the USA Rice Federation raised a concern with the US Trade Representative Office that it feared Thailand would eventually dump rice on the global market.

Agencies

http://www.bt.com.bn/business‐world/2012/10/21/brief

The Jakarta Post

17 / Oct. / 2012 – WTO changes focus to trade facilitations

The World Trade Organization (WTO) will be focusing on trade facilitations, as negotiations in removing global trade barriers have not progressed since the deadlock in 2008, a senior executive of the world’s trade governing body says.

WTO deputy director general Valentine Rugwabiza said on Tuesday in Jakarta that one of the key areas was trade facilitation, which would be central to emerging countries like Indonesia. The basic trade facilitation would include easing customs procedures, providing transparency and predictability for the implementation of the procedures and lower costs, she said.

“Trade facilitation is a key area and one that is progressing. We hope that by some time next year, it will come to fruition,” Rugwabiza said during an interview with The Jakarta Post.

Rugwabiza said progress was also being seen in the area of market access for least‐developed countries to further integrate into the market. At the WTO ministerial meeting last year, several major trading partners of least‐developed countries, such as China, expressed their commitment to open access to their market.

Trade negotiations during the Doha Round, which aimed to eliminate trade barriers around the world to free up global markets, cut agricultural subsidies and enhance the international trading system, have been deadlocked since 2008.

Developing countries like China and India refused to slash import tariffs on industrial goods, while developed markets, led by the US and the European Union, did not want to compromise on measures to protect farmers in poorer countries.

Following the deadlock, many countries have moved on with sealing more bilateral as well as regional trade agreements to shore up trade.

Rugwabiza said that despite the deadlock in the area of tariff reduction, the WTO expected negotiations in the multilateral forum to be concluded, as it was very important for both developing and developed economies.

“Clearly, we have to find a new balance between rights and responsibilities for some of the subjects where not much progress is being made,” she said.

Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said that Indonesia would support trade facilitation as an area for WTO focus in future negotiations, as it would significantly ease trading of international goods and services.

Apart from that, Indonesia would propose that developed countries lift import tariffs and export quotas for least‐developed countries in order to kick‐start the Doha Round, he added.

“Special concessions should be given to them. If this does not happen, they will not enter the negotiations or become engaged,” he said.

Boosted by the recent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) consensus on a duty reduction on environmental goods, Gita said that the prospects for future negotiations in the area of trade facilitation were positive.

During the APEC Summit in Vladivostok, Russia last month, APEC members agreed on a list of 54 environmental goods that would receive tariff cuts of up to 5 percent by 2015. Efforts in drafting the list were first made by the WTO back in 2001, but it failed at the time to achieve any progress.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/10/17/wto‐changes‐focus‐trade‐ facilitations.html

The New Strait Times

15 / Oct. / 2012 – Debt crisis dominates Asia-Europe finance talks

BANGKOK: Finance officials from Asia and Europe expressed fears Monday of further turmoil in world markets but said the eurozone was set for a gradual recovery from its debt crisis.

The talks in Bangkok follow signs that Asia — for years seen as a bright spot in a gloomy world economy — is increasingly feeling the strain from Europe’s financial turbulence.

“Acknowledging the mutual interdependence of their economies, ministers expressed their concerns over the risks created by volatile financial and commodity markets that would potentially impact both Asia and Europe,” according to a statement issued by host Thailand after the talks.

“Global growth has decelerated with substantial remaining uncertainties and downside risks,” it said.

But officials also “expect that the European economy will gradually recover from the current crisis and welcomed the actions taken to address this crisis that will also mitigate its impact on the rest of the world,” it added.

With Europe gearing up for a crunch summit on Thursday, many countries sent vice finance ministers to attend the two‐yearly meeting in Bangkok, which sets the scene for an Asia‐Europe (ASEM) summit in Laos next month.

EU economics chief Olli Rehn struck an optimistic tone, saying Europe had developed an “effective and flexible toolbox” to tackle the debt crisis.

“Concerning the European economic situation, I am today less pessimistic than, say, during the spring,” he told reporters.

“We are working on several fronts to advance decisive policy action,” he said, crediting a “wave of reforms” in EU member states to shore up their public finances and promote economic growth.

“We have an effective and flexible toolbox for short‐term stabilisation at our disposal,” he added.

Rehn cited the entry into force of the European Stability Mechanism, a 500‐ billion‐euro ($630 billion) war chest, as well as the European Central Bank’s pledge to buy eurozone government bonds as reasons for optimism.

He said Spain was making progress in tackling its debt problems, as Madrid keeps world markets guessing about whether it will request a full bailout in an attempt to resolve its financial crisis.

The ECB has outlined a plan to buy Spanish bonds on the open market to curb interest rates, but only if Madrid applies for a financial lifeline and submits to strict conditions from European bailout funds.

“Spain is — in terms of the efforts of a return to recovery and reforming its economic structures — on the right track, even though I know that the current situation is very difficult for many Spanish citizens,” Rehn said.

Hopes that Asia’s economies would largely shrug off the West’s economic troubles have been doused by a slew of weaker‐than‐economic data in recent weeks.

As powerhouses China and India slow more than many had expected, the Asian Development Bank and International Monetary Fund both recently lowered their growth estimates for the region’s emerging economies.

The IMF said last week that growth for developing Asia would come in at 6.7 percent this year and 7.2 percent in 2013, compared with July’s estimate of 7.1 percent and 7.5 percent.

“With the ongoing economic difficulties of some countries in the eurozone, I believe that our cooperation is even more crucial than ever,” Thai Finance Minister Kittiratt Na‐Ranong said.

“Because Asia and Europe are closely knitted in terms of international trade and investment, one spark of crisis could cause turmoil in the other side of the world,” he added. ‐‐ AFP

http://www.nst.com.my/latest/debt‐crisis‐dominates‐asia‐europe‐finance‐ talks‐1.157399##ixzz2A8bjSD00

China Daily

19 / Oct. / 2012 – US, Thailand conduct defense talks

WASHINGTON ‐ US Defense Department on Thursday said senior Pentagon officials met with Thai defense officials earlier in the day, conducting United States ‐ Thailand Defense Strategic Talks. Described by the Pentagon as the two allies' "premier forum for coordinating security policies and consulting on a wide array of security issues", the Defense Strategic Talks were chaired by US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asia Pacific Security Affairs Mark Lippert and Thai Permanent Secretary of Defense General Thanongsak Apirakyothin. The Pentagon said in a statement the discussions reflect "enduring American and Thai commitment to cooperation and consultation on security issues based on shared priorities and mutual respect", and both nations resolved to continue "strengthening the alliance as a true 21st century partnership that aims to promote a peaceful, secure, and prosperous region and contribute to global stability." Both delegations reaffirmed the importance of bilateral and multilateral interoperability and readiness, and look forward to "next steps" for the alliance, including their commitment to continue senior defense dialogues and future senior defense official visits. The United States has been shifting its strategic priorities to the Asia Pacific region, and senior US officials, including Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey have visited Thailand in the past months.

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012‐10/19/content_15830406.htm

The China Post

21 / Oct. / 2012 – Thailand to fight youth drug addiction

BANGKOK ‐‐ Thailand will employ a proactive strategy in tackling drugs, the secretary of the National Narcotic Prevention and Supression Commission, Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, said. The offensive will take place throughout the kingdom, starting with 12 communities in Klong Toei slum, and will involve monitoring those who have been treated after they were found to have drug addiction, he said. Pongsapat, who is also a deputy chief of the National Police, said in the weekly television program “PM Yingluck meets the people” that over the past year many big‐time drug dealers had been arrested. But he was still concerned about drug addiction and trafficking in communities in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. This, he said, had led to the designation of various communities in order to better tackle the problem and many youths have given tips to the authorities while some of those affected in communities were yet to receive proper care that should include post‐addiction livelihood training. Pongsapat cited Klong Toei slum as the most drug‐prone, especially in areas called Lock 1‐3 and Lock 4‐5 over a 70‐rai area and occupied by some 7,000 to 8,000 people. Some 3,000 youths were thought to be at risk, said Pongsapat, and the authorities had surrounded the communities to “x‐ray every inch over a 90‐day period,” which began on Oct. 1. That includes police patrols, installing CCTV cameras and officers at all the 18 entrance and exits. This, he said, had led to many arrests so far. Another measure is to campaign in the community that those addicted are like sick people and since October 14, 106 people, including parents and youths, had voluntarily sought drug treatment. These people were being sent to various treatment centers and it would take from 45 to 120 days for the rehabilitation process to conclude. The Education Ministry has also been asked to help look after children who have no access to education in the areas. Deputy Premier Chalerm Yoobamrung has been appointed as director of Palang Paendin (Power of the Land) Centre that seeks to win the “war on drugs.” Throughout the country, 878 districts will deploy a strategy similar to what is being used in a Klong Toei slum, including crackdowns on drug transport and trafficking. Three areas in Bangkok will be particularly targeted along with nine provinces. More than 400,000 people have been rehabilitated so far and the government is trying to introduce a one‐stop service center. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck went to a Klong Toei slum yesterday to inaugurate the Baan Unjai Project (Reassuring Home Project), coinciding with the crackdown on drugs in the area. Yesterday morning, two drug users were arrested in the area for possessing “ice.” Dusit Poll, meanwhile, revealed that a majority of respondents supported Priephan Damapong as deputy premier to tackle the drugs issue.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/thailand/2012/10/22/358469/Thailand‐ to.htm