Barkar Nash – Page 962

Rally against senators planned for May 23

On: May 21, 2023

A screenshot of the Facebook page of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstation (UFTD) with a message that reads “Senators must not vote against the people’s resolution.”

A rally has been planned for May 23 in front of Parliament in Bangkok’s Kiak Kai area to apply pressure on the 250 members of the Senate not to vote against the people’s resolve for the Move Forward Party to form a government with Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister.

The planned rally was announced by the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration (UFTD) on its Facebook page on Sunday.

The UFTD said: “An election is an important tool to reflect the people’s need and intention. When the people have voiced their need to see change, things should go in that direction under the democratic principle. But, the 2017 constitution gives the 250 senators the right to vote to elect the prime minister although they are not tied in any way to the people.”

“No matter how much this election has demonstrated the people’s true intention, some senators have shown disagreement with the democratic principle. They stand ready to vote against the wish of the elected representatives of the people and to obstruct any change which may occur,” the UFTD said in the Facebook post.

The UFTD called for people who are “genuine holders of sovereign power” to rally in front of the Parliament in Kiak Kai on May 23 from 5pm to call for the senators not to vote against the people’s wish.

“The people’s victory must not be ruined by the senators,” it said.

In a related development, on Sunday morning a group of people claiming they wanted to protect the monarchy gathered in front of the Chao Phrom market in Muang district, Ayutthaya province. They were led by a woman named Kalayani Juprang, alias “Auntie Ayutthaya”.

The group held aloft banners opposing any attempt to amend or abolish Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law, and marched along Naresuan road around the market.

Some residents in the Chao Phrom market area came out to oppose the group’s activity, leading to both sides hurling abuse at each another. Police, both in plain-clothes and in uniform, had to intervene to prevent them clashing.

Ms Kalayani called for people in Ayutthaya and nearby provinces to come out to protect the monarchy because the Move Forward Party had a clear intention to amend Section 112.

She said she agreed Move Forward had the legitimacy to form the core of a coalition government, but its policy that could lead to the abolition of Section 112 was unacceptable.

Ms Kalayani and her group dispersed after about 40 minutes.

New govt coalition parties yet to agree terms

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 21, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, centre, holds a press conference with the leaders of seven potential coalition partners on Thursday as they announced their intention to form a new government and back Mr Pita as the next prime minister. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)

Potential governing coalition parties have yet to agree on the terms of a memorandum of understanding expected to be announced on Monday, according to a senior Move Forward Party official.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra denied he would meet representatives of previous government parties in Hong Kong.

MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulanon said on Sunday that MFP was set to meet representatives of each potential coalition party separately to thrash out the terms of a memorandum of understanding it planned to sign with potential coalition parties.

“The political parties still have different opinions… They will work out joint agreements before the press conference tomorrow,” Mr Chaithawat said.

The MoU would contain not only the MFP’s agenda but also that of other parties, including peace-making in three southern border provinces, the MFP secretary-general said.

On May 17 the leader of the Prachachart Party inquired about MFP’s idea to end barriers to competition in the market for alcoholic beverages. MFP told the leader it would not encourage people to drink alcohol but wanted to end the monopoly in the production of alcoholic beverages.

In addition, MFP wanted to legalise same-sex marriage to welcome social diversity.

The Prachachart Party needed to explain the issues to Muslims, its main supporters, Mr Chaithawat said.

He also said that MFP and seven other parties planned to form the next government with 313 House MPs.

“The number of House votes should be enough. Talks with senators are underway,” Mr Chaithawat said, referring to unelected senators’ power to join House represenatives in the vote for the next prime minister, as enshrined in the junta-scripted constitution.

MFP will need at least 376 votes – half the total of the 500 House representatives and 250 senatorrs.- in the joint sitting. MFP is trying to woo some of the senators to back its leader Pita Limjaroenrat as the next prime minister.

Many senators have sought the details of the MoU before the press conference on Monday, he said.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra denied speculation he would meet representatives of previous government parties in Hong Kong. He wrote on Twitter that he was still in Dubai and would travel “late tomorrow night”. He denied he planned to visit Hong Kong.

Mr Thaksin’s message followed a post by Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul that his family was on holiday in Hong Kong.

Mr Anutin is curerntly a ;deputy prime minister and also public health minister. His Bhumjaithai Party garnered the third most House MPs in the May 14 general election.

More Thai skilled workers wanted by Korean shipbuilders

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 21, 2023

In: South-East Asia

A group of Thai skilled workers are seen at the Labour Ministry on Feb 1 before they left for South Korea to work for shipbuilding companies. (Photo: Labour Ministry)

A major shipbuilder is seeking more than a thousand skilled Thai labourers to join its workforce in South Korea.

The Ministry of Labour’s Department of Employment has been informed by Samsung Heavy Industries, a major shipbuilding company in South Korea, that it wants another 1,227 Thai skilled labourers for its workforce, Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said on Sunday.

The 1,227 wanted include 527 welders, 500 painters and 200 electricians – with monthly salaries of 2.5 million – 3 million Korean won, about 90,000 – 108,000 Thai baht.

Mr Suchart said the Labour Ministry has been in close contact with Khoshipa, the Korea Offshore and Shipbuilding Association, in order to send Thai workers to South Korea with E-7 visas for skilled labour.

As a result, job placement firms in the country had earlier informed the ministry that they had been contracted to supply 4,477 workers for seven shipbuilding firms. So far 711 had been sent to South Korea, he said.

“South Korea is becoming an aged society and has begun to run short of skilled workers,” Mr Suchart said. “So they are offering high salaries and overtime for foreign skilled workers to work in the country, particularly in the shipbuilding industry. This is a good opportunity as Thai skilled workers are acceptable to foreign employers,”.

Pairoj Chotikasathien, director-general of the Department of Employment, said there are five ways for workers to acquire jobs overseas.

The first two ways are for them to be sent overseas by job placement firms or by the Department of Employment. Thirdly, they can seek overseas jobs by themselves. The other two channels are for employers in Thailand themselves to send them abroad, either to work or under job training programmes.

Most people satisfied with election results: poll

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 21, 2023

In: South-East Asia

A vote count takes place in front of City Hall in Bangkok’s Constituency 1 after the polls closed May 14. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)

Most people are satisfied with the overall election results, saying they would still vote the same way they did on May 14 if there were a new election, according to the results of an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.

The poll was conducted on May 16-18 by telephone interviews with 1,310 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education, occupations and incomes throughout the country.

Ask about their satisfaction with the election results in their constituencies, 59.08% were very satisfied; 26.87% fairly satisfied; 8.86% quite unsatisfied; and 5.19% very unsatisfied.

Asked about their satisfaction with the overall election results nationwide, 59.39% were very satisfied; 30.07% fairly satisfied; 6.95% quite unsatisfied; and 3.59% very unsatisfied.

Asked how they would vote if there were a new election, 86.49% said they would vote the same way in both in the constituency and party-list systems; 6.03% said they would vote differently in both; 3.13% said they would vote the same as before in the constituency system only; 2.37% said they would not go to the polls; and 1.98% said they would vote the same as before in the party-list system only.

Most people satisfied with election results: Nida Poll

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 21, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Most people are satisfied with overall election results, saying they would still vote the same way they did on May 14 if there is a new election, according to the result of an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.

The poll was conducted on May 16-18 by telephone interviews with 1,310 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education, occupations and incomes throughout the country.

Ask about their satisfaction with the election results in their constituencies, 59.08% were very satisfied; 26.87% fairly satisfied; 8.86% not quite satisfied; and 5.19% not satisfied at all.

Asked about their satisfaction with the overall election results nationwide, 59.39% were very satisfied; 30.07% fairly satisfied; 6.95% not quite satisfied; and 3.59% not satisfied at all.

Asked what if they have to vote again in a new election, 86.49% said they would vote the same as before both in the constituency and party-list systems; 6.03% said they would vote differently from the last time both in the constituency and party-list systems; 3.13% said they would vote the same as before in the constituency system only; 2.37% said they would not go to the poll; and 1.98% said they would vote the same as before in the party-list system only.

CIB mulls temple fund investigations

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 21, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Phra Vajirayankosol: Accused in B300M theft case

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has assigned the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) to work with the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) to put an end to financial crimes and sexual misconduct by monks.

Phra Vajirayankosol, founder of Wat Pah Dhammakhiri, a forest monastery in Nakhon Ratchasima province, and Phra Maha Wuthima Thaomor, its abbot, were recently defrocked and stripped of their titles for allegedly stealing about 300 million baht from temple funds and having sexual relations.

Now as laymen, Khom Khonggaew, 39, and Wuthima Thaomor, 38, have been placed under arrest since May 8.

Police said they found 130 million baht of stolen temple funds in Mr Khom’s bank account and 51 million baht in cash at Mr Khom’s sister’s house, Jutatip Pubodeewachorupan. She is also under arrest.

The seizure as well as the police probe into the monks’ alleged misconduct has drawn public attention across the country.

The ACD has joined hands with the NOB to receive complaints regarding corruption in temples after discovering there are considerable amounts in donations at many temples that need to be inspected.

CIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Jiraphob Puridej said the arrest of Phra Ajarn Khom Apiwaro was significant and could potentially lead to other embezzlement investigations at other temples.

Monks and abbots should regularly account for donation money, or their financial management may be seen as fraudulent by temple executive committees, he said.

Pol Lt Gen Jiraphob said the NOB had asked the police to look into Mr Khom’s affairs as president of Wat Pah Dhammakhiri.

The office believed Mr Khom was involved in the embezzlement of the temple’s donation money, he said.

Mr Khom had been responsible for the temple’s financial management, including overseeing money donated by followers, he said.

He and Mr Wuthima were suspected of misappropriating the temple’s money for personal use, he said.

Pol Lt Gen Jiraphob said Mr Khom had demanded the abbot of Wat Pa Dhammakhiri bring cash to his sister so she could deposit it into their bank account.

“The suspect also confessed he had sex in the temple’s cloister, which is an infringement of monks’ disciplinary rules,” he said, referring to Mr Khom.

“He was willing to be defrocked and turn himself in.”

Jiraphob: NOB needs assistance

On May 9, the CSD arrested six other suspects, comprising a driver and five defrocked monks from Wat Pa Dhammakhiri for their alleged involvement in the 300-million-baht embezzlement scandal.

The five former monks were identified as Boonsong Phanphuwong, 34, Bundit Yoicha, 42, Natthapat Tangjaisanong, 36, Boonluea Pothong, 36, and Thanakrit Yotsurin, 34, and the driver was identified as Boonsak Pattarakosol, 45.

It is believed they hid 76 million baht in cash and other valuables, including gold bars and bullion worth about 100 million baht in total, buried in the compound of the forest temple.

The six men were charged with embezzlement, aiding in embezzlement and receiving stolen goods, reports said.

The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases also rejected their bail request, after deeming them a flight risk.

The amount of seized assets and cash is considerable and the suspects have caused immense damage. Evidence and witnesses could be interfered with if they were granted bail, the court said.

“The case is not complicated because the suspects’ intention was obvious. If they had not meant to misappropriate the temple’s donation money, they would not have transferred it to Ms Jutatip’s account.

“The money should have remained in the temple’s accounts as the donors wished,” Pol Lt Gen Jiraphob said.

He said that Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, commander of the ACD, has been assigned to work with the NOB to probe temples where monks are suspected to have embezzled donation money.

“The NOB might hold insightful information, but they do not have investigative personnel,” he said. “The CIB will coordinate between the two agencies to conduct the investigation.”

Mr Khom was a graduate of the Wat Bowonniwet School and recipient of the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand’s scholarship, which boosted his popularity among the public.

Mr Khom followed the teachings of the late Luang Ta Maha Bua of Wat Pa Bantad, well-known for his campaigns to raise temple funds.

The suspect studied and practised Buddhist precepts with the sister of Luang Ta Maha Bua when he was in middle and high school.

While studying at Maha Chulalongkorn Raja Vidyalaya University, he visited Pak Chong district in Nakhon Ratchasima to seek a peaceful location for a retreat. Later, he founded Wat Pa Dhammakhiri.

Phra Khom’s popularity rose in 2021 when His Majesty the King bestowed upon him the title Phra Vajirayankosol, a rank for upper-level priests.

However, ties between Wat Pa Dhammakhiri and the royal family can be traced back to 2013 when Her Royal Highness Princess Aditayadornkitikhun presided over a gold-casting ceremony for the temple’s principal Buddha image.

Phra Khom’s preaching drew a large number of devotees to Wat Pa Dhammakhiri, many of whom were high-profile businessmen, high-ranking government officials, politicians and actors.

He received huge sums of money from his followers to build facilities at the temple.

A source from Nakhon Ratchasima said that a decade before temple construction began, the area in Pak Chong district was a national forest reserve, used by local farmers to grow corn, cassava, apples and rubber trees.

The six-rai of land was later given to the temple before another 30-rai plot was donated by followers. Wat Pa Dhammkhiri’s ongoing construction works have attracted many followers.

“Mr Khom’s staff would tell people not to take pictures in the temple,” a source said. “I did not know the reason [behind] the prohibition.”

Jaturong Jongarsa, a Buddhist scholar, commented on the arrest of the high-profile Phra Khom, saying famous temples are likely to face corruption by insiders.

He said the Sangha Supreme Council should decentralise its authority to agencies at provincial, district or even sub-district levels to help tackle such corruption problems.

Mr Jaturong pointed out that many Buddhist temples in Thailand are competing to build bigger Buddha images or buildings to attract more followers, which some regard as the commercialisation of Buddhism.

If the abbots get promoted, more people will devote themselves to the temples and the abbots themselves will receive more religious engagements, further boosting temple funds, he said.

“The Sangha Supreme Council and Department of Religious Affairs should review their policies and be more proactive into their probes of a temple’s [financial] affairs,” he said.

Jaturong: Rivalryfor visitors a factor

Conflict or coup possible, warns academic

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 20, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Coalition ‘must secure 66+ senators’

Conflict and another coup could occur if the Move Forward Party (MFP) fails to form a coalition government, an academic has warned.

Phichai: Pita, MFP have legitimacy

The military has, however, given assurances that it will do its best to maintain order and ruled out the possibility of another coup.

Writing on Facebook on Saturday, Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, programme director for politics and development strategy at the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), presented possible scenarios for what would happen if the MFP is able to form a government and what would happen if the party fails to do so.

The MFP-led coalition, which now has a combined 313 MPs, will form the new government if it can secure the support of at least 66 senators, he said.

He said the MFP has the legitimacy to form a government and that its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, stands out among the other prime ministerial candidates as he has the backing of voters and has gained international recognition.

“With the MFP leading the government, politics will stabilise while democracy will thrive and the economy will go ahead. Thailand will be held in high esteem by other countries,” he said.

But if the MFP fails to form a coalition government because the senators refuse to vote for Mr Pita to be prime minister, the country will lack stability as it will be rocked by division and conflict, leading to an economic downturn and a bad image in the eyes of other countries, Mr Phichai said.

If the Pheu Thai Party becomes the leader in forming a government and nominates its prime ministerial candidate, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, for a PM vote in parliament, there is no guarantee the senators will vote for her, he said.

Moreover, Pheu Thai may not be able to bring the Palang Pracharath and Bhumjaithai parties into its coalition, because it will face resistance from red-shirt groups, he said.

Division and conflict could trigger a coup, allowing the military to step in and assume power, sending the country into a downward spiral, he said.

Yutthaporn Issarachai, a political science lecturer at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said the MFP’s supporters, particularly those on social media, wield a great deal of influence on the party’s decision making.

“The MFP has to bow to the demands of its own fandom. On the issue relating to Section 112 [the lese majeste law], if the MFP insists on revising the law, it must confront the senators and parties that oppose the bid.

“But if the party backs down from the move, it will confront its own fandom instead online,” Mr Yutthaporn said.

Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party — part of the MFP-led coalition bloc — on Saturday said that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) drafted by the MFP imposes too many obligations on coalition partners.

The coalition is working out an MoU which will map out guidelines for its collaboration and address national, political, economic and social crises. Details of the MoU will be revealed tomorrow.

“There are too many details regarding matters such as military reform. It seems the MFP is trying to obligate coalition partners to agree on issues raised by the MFP,” Pol Gen Sereepisuth said.

“But the issue related to Section 112 is not included in the MoU,” he added.

Meanwhile, an army source said that another coup is unlikely even if the MFP is thwarted in its desire to form a government — which could spark street protests from its supporters.

“In the past, a coup could take place under such circumstances. But right now, a coup is unlikely. However, it remains to be seen how the miltary will maintain order without having to stage a coup,” the source said.

Army chief Gen Narongpan Jittkaewtae previously provided assurances that no coups will take place while he is in charge, saying the chance of a coup is zero. He said the word “coup” should not exist in anyone’s vocabulary.

Conflict or coup, warns academic

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 20, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Coalition ‘must secure 66+ senators’

Conflict and another coup could occur if the Move Forward Party (MFP) fails to form a coalition government, an academic has warned.

Phichai: Pita, MFP have legitimacy

The military has, however, given assurances that it will do its best to maintain order and ruled out the possibility of another coup.

Writing on Facebook yesterday, Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, programme director for politics and development strategy at the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), presented possible scenarios for what would happen if the MFP is able to form a government and what would happen if the party fails to do so.

The MFP-led coalition, which now has a combined 313 MPs, will form the new government if it can secure the support of at least 66 senators, he said.

“With the MFP leading the government, politics will stabilise while democracy will thrive and the economy will go ahead. Thailand will be held in high esteem by other countries,” he said.

Moreover, Pheu Thai may not be able to bring the Palang Pracharath and Bhumjaithai parties into its coalition, because it will face resistance from red-shirt groups, he said.

Division and conflict could trigger a coup, allowing the military to step in and assume power, sending the country into a downward spiral, he said.

“But if the party backs down from the move, it will confront its own fandom instead online,” Mr Yutthaporn said.

Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party — part of the MFP-led coalition bloc — yesterday said that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) drafted by the MFP imposes too many obligations on coalition partners.

The coalition is working out an MoU which will map out guidelines for its collaboration and address national, political, economic and social crises. Details of the MoU will be revealed tomorrow.

“There are too many details regarding matters such as military reform. It seems the MFP is trying to obligate coalition partners to agree on issues raised by the MFP,” Pol Gen Sereepisuth said.

“But the issue related to Section 112 is not included in the MoU,” he added.

Meanwhile, an army source said that another coup is unlikely even if the MFP is thwarted in its desire to form a government — which could spark street protests from its supporters.

Move Forward supporters nix plan for Korn to join

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 20, 2023

In: South-East Asia

The Move Forward Party (MFP) yesterday ditched the New and Chartpattanakla parties from its proposed coalition line-up, following a backlash from its supporters.

MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon announced yesterday the party will focus on lobbying for Senate support for its leader to be premier.

MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat posted a tweet on Friday night, about the approaches: “I would like to apologise. I will keep reminding myself that a party is bigger than an individual. The people are bigger than a party.”

Bowing to mounting pressure from its supporters, the MFP posted a message on its Facebook page on Friday night, acknowledging that it had heard the voices of the people, many of whom opposed the inclusion of Chartpattanakla in its alliance.

The move came after the MFP held talks with Chartpattanakla on Friday regarding their support for Mr Pita’s bid to become prime minister and the formation of a coalition government, with MFP deputy leader Phicharn Chaowapatanawong confirming the alliance that evening.

The negotiations drew widespread criticism from the public, party staff, provincial-level panels and party members. Most shared the view that they could not accept the inclusion of the Chartpattanakla Party led by Korn Chatikavanij.

As the hash tag “Mee Korn Mai Mee Ku”, meaning “if you have Korn, you can’t have me”, trended on Thai language Twitter that evening, a meeting of prospective Move Forward MPs also expressed the same stance.

Opposition to Chartpattanakla stemmed from its leader Mr Korn, who participated in the seven-month-long Bangkok Shutdown and anti-Yingluck Shinawatra protests that led to the military coup that toppled her administration in May 22, 2014. Mr Korn, a former deputy leader of the Democrat Party, also voted in favour of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the coup leader at the time, as prime minister.

The MFP, after winning the most House seats in the election, said the party would focus on convincing enough senators to back Mr Pita as PM, allowing it to form a government as soon as possible.

On Friday, the one-member New Party accepted the invitation to join the alliance, setting it on course to becoming the ninth party to do so. However, the party was also dropped from the proposed coalition line-up, following the online backlash, according to party leader Kritditas Saengthanayothin.

Chartpattanakla chairman Suwat Liptapanlop yesterday insisted the party had been approached to join the proposed MFP-led coalition bloc and not the other way around. The MFP said it was running short of MP support to form a government.

“We didn’t ask to be part of the coalition bloc,” Mr Suwat said.

The party merely wanted to see a post-election politics with a semblance of stability and for the country to be ruled by a government with majority support in parliament, he added.

Exports of rice surge to 2.8m tonnes

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 20, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Demand grows despite prices

Rice exports topped 2.79 million tonnes from January to April with the volume for the entire year forecast to exceed 8 million tonnes, the government said.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was upbeat about the figure, valued at US$1.5 billion (51.2 billion baht), up 23% from the same period last year, said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

The prime minister has instructed state agencies to work proactively to improve rice exports further and increase crop production while pushing to keep rice prices high in overseas markets, Mr Anucha said.

He added exports of Thai rice are expected to keep rising on the back of growing demand in many countries.

Currently, Thailand is the world’s second-largest rice exporter after India.

In April, the hike in rice prices was attributed to the stable baht which has kept the commodity competitive in foreign markets.

As a result, the prices of most types of rice have risen beyond the government’s price guarantee.

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has now predicted rice exports will surpass the yearly target.

The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) forecasts exports will reach 8 million tonnes, up from 7.69 million tonnes in 2022.

As of May 10, rice exports stood at 3.05 million tonnes, according to Mr Anucha, adding orders for Thai rice from overseas keep on climbing.

Major markets for Thai rice include Iraq, Indonesia, the US, South Africa, Senegal, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Cameroon and Mozambique. Thailand mostly exports white rice the most, followed by jasmine rice.

Mr Anucha said the prime minister thanked state agencies and the private sector for their efforts in marketing and developing the quality of rice for export to meet demand. However, Gen Prayut has cautioned against fraudulent exports, which could damage the reputation of Thai rice internationally.

Udom Srisomsong, deputy director-general of the DIT, said global demand for Thai rice remains strong, which has sustained prices and made them competitive.

The high export prices have offset the need for the government to step in and use its price guarantee measure to assist farmers.

The Thai Rice Exporters Association, meanwhile, said it fails to see any clarity in measures dealing with crop prices from the Move Forward Party or Pheu Thai, the two main parties that will form the new government. They are thrashing out a memorandum of understanding covering key policy areas as part of the deal.

Charoen Laothamthat, the association president, said a change of government should not stall or bring abrupt changes to policies that hinder the development of key crops.

Companies fear Thailand may be losing its competitiveness in exporting rice to Vietnam.

Barkar Nash (Page 962)