10,000 Thai Workers To Be Evacuated From Libya

[webfact]

10,000 Thai workers to be evacuated from Libya

By The Nation

Economic worries rise as Libyan crisis sends oil prices soaring to 30month high while stock markets tumble

Thailand is speeding up the evacuation of about 10,000 Thai workers from riotstricken Libyan cities amid worsening violence while policymakers worldwide fear economic disruption as oil prices spike to a 30month high.

Most Asian stock markets fell yesterday as traders worried about the turmoil in Libya and the possibility of further contagion within the oilrich Arab world.

The Thai stock market showed the steepest decline in two weeks, falling 13.69 points, or 1.4 per cent, to 977.22 points.

"The worsening situation in Libya encouraged investors to avoid taking risks, leading to selloffs of stocks and Asia's emergingmarket currencies," Tohru Nishihama, an economist at Daiichi Life Research Institute in Tokyo told Bloomberg. "Tensions in the Middle East also raised concerns about oil prices and inflation in the region, which could derail economic growth."

Thai financial authorities are closely monitoring the situation. Higher oil prices could raise inflationary pressures. The Oil Fund is spending Bt4 for every litre of diesel sold to keep the price below Bt30 per litre.

In its January inflation report, the Bank of Thailand forecast that this year core inflation would be 23 per cent, on the assumption that Dubai crude would stay at US$91.3 (Bt2,800) per barrel.

Yesterday Brent crude rose above US$119 a barrel. Dubai crude has risen more than 16 per cent since end2010.

Feeling the pinch right now is the tourism industry, but the impact is expected to spread to exports if the situation can't be contained soon.

According to the Association of Thai Travel Agents, traffic from the Middle East and Europe has declined.

Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia, said the airline would consider raising minimum fuel surcharges by Bt100Bt200 per seat if oil prices exceed $120 per barrel. But he maintained that the number of passengers would rise from 5 million to 7 million this year, as oil prices and domestic political instability were the only negative factors.

Thanavath Phonvichai, director of the Centre for Commerce and Business at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the impact of the Libyan uprising could affect exports of food to Africa, and electrical appliances, food, textiles and automobiles to the Middle East could also be hit.

But Thai workers in Libya would be the worst affected and their annual income of approximately Bt50 billion could be hit.

"The chaos should not continue for more than two months, as disruption in oil supply could affect the global economic recovery," Thanavath said. "If the crude oil price stays above $100 per barrel for more than three months, this will be the case and it will also push up inflation."

He expects the Bank of Thailand to raise the policy rate on March 9 by a quarter of a percentage point but maintains the view that Thailand's economy will expand 3.54 per cent this year.

Regarding the evacuation, the first batch of evacuees are scheduled to arrive in Thailand this Sunday. At the time of going to press, at least 2,000 Thais had already left Libya for safety reasons via arrangements made by their employers. They are now in Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey.

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, yesterday said the Thai Embassy in Rome was in the process of dispatching a ship to Libya with a plan to evacuate 2,000 Thais from Tripoli.

"The ship will send the Thais to Tunisia, after which charter flights can be arranged to bring them home," Chavanond said.

He said the ship would return to bring another 2,000 Thais out of Libya later.

Labour Ministry spokesman Sutham Nateethong said buses would also be used in the evacuation.

However, he said only Thai workers in Benghazi and Tripoli would be evacuated because other parts of Libya remained unaffected.

Sutham left Thailand for Libya around midnight to set up two shelters for Thai workers there.

"We will bring in food, too," he said.

Employment Department deputy director general Prawit Kiangphon said he had received reports that some Libyans were plundering Thai workers' camps as they knew food had been delivered there.

"So, we plan to make deliveries of food and water on a daily basis. We will not let the camps stock food," he said.

In a related development, 900 relatives of Libyabased Thai workers have called on the Udon Thani Employment Office to help ensure the government provides help for their loved ones.

-- The Nation 2011-02-25

[webfact]

Thai workers urgently want to return home

By The Nation

More than 1,200 Thai workers in unrestplagued Libya have expressed their intention to return to their homeland in an email sent to Nation Multimedia Group (NMG) editor-in-chief Suthichai Yoon.

"We want the government to urgently arrange the evacuation," Yuttana Wituppasai said in the email.

He dismissed the information given out recently by the government that no Thai worker had expressed an intention to return to Thailand and that the situation in Libya was not yet so bad.

"I want to inform the government that Thai workers do not know which channel we can use to communicate to the government at all. Many workers here don't even know where the Thai Embassy in Libya is located. We have no telephone number of the embassy. But even if we have, telephone service is out of use now," a part of his email said.

Yuttana urged Suthichai to help contact the government for arranging the evacuation of Thai workers from Libya.

"Please help us before the situation turns even more violent. Or, if the government is certain that all Thais will be safe in Libya, please instruct the Thai ambassador here to contact us and provide the assurance," he said.

Yuttana said he believed many Thai workers had already contacted many agencies and organisations in Thailand to ask for help already.

"But we have not yet received any clear response," he said.

He said more than 1,200 Thai workers have come to work on the National Housing Project Tajara Libya under the employment contract given by a Malaysiabased company Ranhill.

"There are workers from other nations too. In all, this project has more than 3,000 workers," Yuttana said, "But because of the unrest, we have not worked for three days already."

The employer has now returned the passports of the workers to prepare for evacuation.

-- The Nation 2011-02-25

[geriatrickid]

Sorry, but I do not understand why the Thai government or any other government for that matter is expected to pay for the evacuation of these people. Yes, there should be consular support, but a subsidised rescue?

Many of these jobs are related to the building of an infrastructure that enslaved the Libyans. It was common knowledge that Libya funded the despots of Chad, Sudan and Sierra Leone. Libya funded terrorist groups throughout the world And yet foreigners rushed in for the jobs. Tough luck. The truth is coming out about some of these "civilian" projects. Army installations, prisons etc. Yes, prisons where Libyans would be held and tortured or murdered. For example, the Canadian engineering & construction multinational admitted that it was building a "state of the art" prison. They never made a public mention of this project until they were outed the other day. Hello? Earth to SNC Lavalin, you were supporting a dictator and now you expect Canadian government assistance to get your people out? What of the major military construction project underway where Thais were employed as labourers? Why should I be concerned about people that were making their living helping to build the infrastructure from which Libya meddled in Chad? The Europeans working in the oil fields for good wages knew the risks. They knew that they were being paid by a thug, but they took the jobs. I call this poetic justice. It also explains why some of the Libyans are turning on the workers of the oppressor. The libyan people have every right to despise these foreigners that participated in the brutal regime. You play with the devil and sooner or later you will get burnt.

Anyway, here is a nice schematic of the number of foreigners in Libya. Bangladeshis and Thais are the biggest groups. However, it should come as no surprise that China, Philippines and Turkey are also big players. Let the Chinese and Turks deal with their beloved dear friend. Maybe Turkey can organize a rescue flotilla.

http://www.cbc.ca/ne...ibya-chart.html

Edited February 25, 2011 by geriatrickid

[mca]

But Thai workers in Libya would be the worst affected and their annual income of approximately Bt50 billion could be hit

Per person?

[Robby nz]

Sorry, but I do not understand why the Thai government or any other government for that matter is expected to pay for the evacuation of these people. Yes, there should be consular support, but a subsidised rescue?

Many of these jobs are related to the building of an infrastructure that enslaved the Libyans. It was common knowledge that Libya funded the despots of Chad, Sudan and Sierra Leone. Libya funded terrorist groups throughout the world And yet foreigners rushed in for the jobs. Tough luck. The truth is coming out about some of these "civilian" projects. Army installations, prisons etc. Yes, prisons where Libyans would be held and tortured or murdered. For example, the Canadian engineering & construction multinational admitted that it was building a "state of the art" prison. They never made a public mention of this project until they were outed the other day. Hello? Earth to SNC Lavalin, you were supporting a dictator and now you expect Canadian government assistance to get your people out? What of the major military construction project underway where Thais were employed as labourers? Why should I be concerned about people that were making their living helping to build the infrastructure from which Libya meddled in Chad? The Europeans working in the oil fields for good wages knew the risks. They knew that they were being paid by a thug, but they took the jobs. I call this poetic justice. It also explains why some of the Libyans are turning on the workers of the oppressor. The libyan people have every right to despise these foreigners that participated in the brutal regime. You play with the devil and sooner or later you will get burnt.

Anyway, here is a nice schematic of the number of foreigners in Libya. Bangladeshis and Thais are the biggest groups. However, it should come as no surprise that China, Philippines and Turkey are also big players. Let the Chinese and Turks deal with their beloved dear friend. Maybe Turkey can organize a rescue flotilla.

http://www.cbc.ca/ne...ibya-chart.html

While it is correct to say that it is not the Govt's responsibility to get these people out as the Govt did not send them there.

However it is good to see that the Thai Govt is prepered to help Thai citizens when they are in desperate strife.

These are not rich people but low paid labourers who normaly work long hours for a pittance in Thailand.

They have taken the risk of going to Libya as well as other countries in an effort to better themselves and their families, this can not have been an easy thing to do.

There is also the aspect of the money they send back helping the Thai economy.

They are in no way responsible for the situation over there and now have no way of getting out of it but to call for help.

Good on the Govt for going to their aid.

[asiawatcher]

But Thai workers in Libya would be the worst affected and their annual income of approximately Bt50 billion could be hit

Per person?

Doing the maths - that is 5M THB per worker - where do I apply?

[IanPrince99]

Thai in Egypt were mostly Yellow shirt, student from rich parents; they were flown out. Thai in Libya were mostly Re-shirt poor worker, they will be ship out, if lucky. DOUBLE STANDARD. Don't lie about the air-space is close. Brit, European etc have been and is currently flying their citizen out.

[mca]

But Thai workers in Libya would be the worst affected and their annual income of approximately Bt50 billion could be hit

Per person?

Doing the maths - that is 5M THB per worker - where do I apply?

The way it's written it comes across as 50 billion each. A definite case of where do I apply!

[bangon04]

Thai in Egypt were mostly Yellow shirt, student from rich parents; they were flown out. Thai in Libya were mostly Re-shirt poor worker, they will be ship out, if lucky. DOUBLE STANDARD. Don't lie about the air-space is close. Brit, European etc have been and is currently flying their citizen out.

Send in the Royal Thai aircraft carrier - actually something useful for it to do.

[geriatrickid]

Thai in Egypt were mostly Yellow shirt, student from rich parents; they were flown out. Thai in Libya were mostly Re-shirt poor worker, they will be ship out, if lucky. DOUBLE STANDARD. Don't lie about the air-space is close. Brit, European etc have been and is currently flying their citizen out.

Airspace is indeed closed for safety reasons. Lufthansa and Alitalia which had managed to fly some people out have suspended service because of the danger.Canada's chartered Skylink services to Amman Jordan were stopped by Libya and then by the aircraft insurers because of the danger. Tripoli airport is in chaos. Those that are getting out are doing so by ferries and its from the liberated areas. I suggest that foreigners in Tripoli are effectively hostages.

[gotlost]

Sleep with the devil and this what you get.

[elcent]

I feel something strange about the Thai rescue operation.

It seems more like speculation of govt and placement agencies that the crisis would be over and played a waiting game. Money is the biggest concern. Agencies losing money. 23 000 losing jobs and income with no replacement in sight.

To me it seems they don't want them back.

Proof me wrong. I don't see any media attention about this as well.

This could end up in a disaster for thousands of Thai Nationals.

While most countries have finished evacuating their citizens, Thailand is still drawing fancy escape-route-maps and nothing else. At least all attemtpts by the govt are less than half hearted.

[elcent]

[Rinrada]

Unlike other countries ...Frence-German-Turkish etc..just dont ask the British Gov to help...they are too busy crawling around the desert avec PM trying to flog more guns to the despots in charge of these pathethic little moronic countries....and handing wedding invites out as a bribe....wot the fe

All other countries arrived and made a quick pickup but just read that "our chaps" after hiring planes from a well known oil co....BP not only sat back and waited for permission to land but provided suitcases of back handers ie loads of moolah for the remaining dregs of the old regime...good heavens must play by the rules...after all we are ...Prick-esh Boys scouts would have done better....

Good luck to Abbis boys and well done the lads of the new Libya -Tunisia,Egypt,Bahrain.....and next please......

[Richb2004v2]

A colleague of my'n arrived back in the Uk a few hours ago. They traveled from the desert to Madrid, to Palma, to Gatwick. Apparently there are others stuck in other desert locations though.

[elcent]

Until March 5th 8 000 Thais will be rescued and 10 000 more want to continue working there according to official sources.

Does anybody believe that?

Since it is so save, can the Nation go there and check the facts?

Aren't the accounts for Libya closed worldwide?

Who is paying them? Are those workers forced from it's own people to stay there? Go figure it out ...

[elcent]

... and honestly, I expected a scenario like this to appear.

Good luck for those workers and may their voices be heard soon.

I don't want them ending up as hostages there.

[rubl]

Thai in Egypt were mostly Yellow shirt, student from rich parents; they were flown out. Thai in Libya were mostly Re-shirt poor worker, they will be ship out, if lucky. DOUBLE STANDARD. Don't lie about the air-space is close. Brit, European etc have been and is currently flying their citizen out.

I assume you can point me to a webpage where I can find these details you refer to ('mostly yellow shirt in Egypt')?

Not in the mood to wait I just add my own answer.

The situation in Egypt was hectic, but rather isolated, mostly Cairo. Planes could come/go without real problems. For Thailand some 2600 students, about 90 seem to have been flown out to Jordan. Probably the students (but don't know) are from the Southern provinces of Thailand. Neither students nor parents are likely to be yellow-shirts in the sense of PAD/NTP. Some countries sent ships and Thailand asked Malaysia/Singapore for space on them (Asian Cooperation).

Libya is a bit further away, started later and the revolt is much more violent. The Libyan Airforce is shooting. No airline is bound to risk lives, planes, insurance in such a case. Ships seem a better choice. Some seem to have made it in buses through the desert, like a six day trek. Lots of foreigners (i.e. non-Libyans) stuck in Libya. The level of violence was not expected at all I guess.

Edited March 3, 2011 by rubl

[elcent]

keep yourself updated with this http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/live-blog-libya-march-3

[elcent]

today from the UNHCR released video clip

[TAWP]

Elcent, so your flawed assertion is that 1) Peoples was flown out of Egypt 2) Most people will not be flown out of Libya 3) therefor the workers in Egypt must have been Yellow Shirts ('middle class') 4) while workers in Libya is Red Shirts ('lower class') 5) since the government choose the method of transportation out of spite and not necessity.

However since 5) is an incorrect assertion all your other assertions fall flat and your political bias is exposed.

Edited March 3, 2011 by TAWP

[rubl]

Elcent, so your flawed assertion is that 1) Peoples was flown out of Egypt 2) Most people will not be flown out of Libya 3) therefor the workers in Egypt must have been Yellow Shirts ('middle class') 4) while workers in Libya is Red Shirts ('lower class') 5) since the government choose the method of transportation out of spite and not necessity.

However since 5) is an incorrect assertion all your other assertions fall flat and your political bias is exposed.

An 'oops' situation methinks. Your reply should be aimed at 'IanPrince99'. The posts of 'elcent' are very much appreciated.

[elcent]

So finally the govt's calling in the job placement agencies in the next couple of days to make an assessment of how many Thai workers are in Lybia and to question about the workers that haven't fullfilled the contracts and not fully paid those agencies.

As expected ... MONEY, GREED CARELESSNESS RULES.

In meanwhile, and also as expected ... (not actually rocket science)

Sudden drop in people fleeing Libya into Tunisia sparks new concerns

News Stories, 04 March 2011

© UNHCR/A.Duclos

A group of people heading towards the Libyan border with Tunisia. The outflow of people has slowed.

GENEVA, March 4 (UNHCR) The UN refugee agency on Friday reported a sharp drop in the numbers of people crossing the border at Ras Adjir from Libya into Tunisia, and said it was increasingly worried at reports of people being impeded from fleeing.

As of mid-week, some 10,000-15,000 people were crossing the border daily, placing huge strains on the abilities of Tunisian authorities and humanitarian agencies to cope. But since Wednesday afternoon the numbers have fallen sharply. On Thursday, less than 2,000 people crossed.

http://www.unhcr.org...w-concerns.html

Edited March 4, 2011 by elcent

[ginjag]

A colleague of my'n arrived back in the Uk a few hours ago. They traveled from the desert to Madrid, to Palma, to Gatwick. Apparently there are others stuck in other desert locations though.

They travelled from the desert to Madrid, walked accross the Med-then to Madrid, back accross the Med to Majorca, then back accross the Med to Gatwick ??? hell of a trek. How did they get from the Libyan desert to Madrid ???? not being clever but they took 3 flights.!!

[elcent]

Gaddafi's son on interview from today. Got to love the journalist.

[elcent]

In meanwhile heavy fights with many causualities.

Propaganda SMS are sent out by the State telephone organiztion to attack(kill) foreigners in Libya. It is restricted to Golf States citicen at the moment, but this can change quickly and any and all foreigners in Libya are threatened.

[TAWP]

An 'oops' situation methinks. Your reply should be aimed at 'IanPrince99'. The posts of 'elcent' are very much appreciated.

Hah, yes, you are ofcourse right, that is what happens when one posts late in the night before going to bed. My apologies.