PM Prayut hopes for second chance at fixing fishery problems

[webfact]

PM hopes for second chance at fixing fishery problems

BANGKOK, 23 April 2015 (NNT) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expects the European Union (EU) to give Thailand another chance to address problems in its fishing industry while urging all sides to join hands in the effort.

Commenting on the EU’s recent issuance of a yellow card to Thailand for failing to abide by the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Regulation, Prime Minister Prayut expressed hope that the EU will kindly allow Thailand to resolve all pending issues before deciding to ban Thai fishery products. He pointed out that the government has already made huge progress but many procedures have been delayed, especially the registration and nationality verification of migrant labor aboard fishing vessels.

Whether or not the problems will be fully ironed out within the EU’s six-month deadline, the premier noted that it depends on the cooperation from all related sides. He encouraged private operators to help out by having their fishing boats registered and inspected for human trafficking activities while all boats should be improved to meet the standards and be equipped with tracking devices.

Gen Prayut added that another important solution is to enforce new and more effective fishery-related laws, some of which are currently under the deliberation of the National Legislative Assembly. The government may also use Section 44 of the interim constitution to set up a new body to specifically register fishing workers and punish law breakers.


-- NNT 2015-04-23

[NongKhaiKid]

Right on cue there's the plea for an extension although this time ' kindly ' is included.

Of course it's never the fault of LoS, as with the air safety issue, what's wrong with doing nothing until threatened with a ban then spring into action and ask for more time. People really need to understand.

[SoilSpoil]

Didn't the EU give Thailand 6 months? That's about 180 days. Mr Prayuth and his people could have started yesterday with the big clean up.

Thailand's fishery practices and slavery problems are horrible and filling the pockets of corrupt criminals. Its the customers' and their respective government's responsibility to stop buying these products.

[toybits]

Surely that would be sooooo much easier that fixing up a country. With his omnipotence, it should be a breeze.

[givenall]

What do thing will happen after extention. Ask for more time.

[Plutojames88]

My money is on a ban

[kmj]

In the beginning I had high hopes but how long has he been in power and what the <deleted> has he fixed

[chainarong]

I don't think an extension of time would be of any use, nothing will get done as proven before , what needs to done is these owners need to go on a fact finding tour of other fishing countries and just see how modern their fleets are and the fishing industries regulations on fishing quotes and practice then they have no excuse not to come up to standard , the death traps out of Asia because this not only applies to Thailand, Indon is in the mix also Vietnam go back hundred years and so is the thinking.

[Caveat Emptor]

Try it once again PM and this time with more sincerity, yes i know it's difficult.

[Suffinator]

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expects the European Union (EU) to give Thailand another chance to address problems in its fishing industry while urging all sides to join hands in the effort.

If there were international yearly Delusional Awards this guy would win it hands down.

Sir successive governments have effectively supported the atrocities so that a few get rich. Time to face up to the atrocities and make some high profile arrests. Unfortunately the west knows, as well as you do, that the underpinning corruption in Thailand has now left you with nowhere to go but down.

It's no good crying about it and the EU HAVE given you time ... 6 months; which in my view is 5 months and 29 days too long considering how long this has been going on for and how many times the EU has asked for measurable changes. You should consider yourself extremely fortunate they gave 6 months, thanked them profusely and then actually started with proactive measures to address the issues ... of course that's now what you are used to but fail to do so will likely result in the loss of around a US$1 billion a year ... OUCH!

Gen Prayut added that another important solution is to enforce new and more effective fishery-related laws, some of which are currently under the deliberation of the National Legislative Assembly.

Are you suggesting that there are laws in place but as usual due to corruption they are not enforce? I'm afraid that it's no good making new laws if you weren't able to enforce existing ones and the EU will see right through the cow dung.

[Suffinator]

In the beginning I had high hopes but how long has he been in power and what the <deleted> has he fixed

In a nutshell .... ummm, that would be SQUAT DIDDLY

[eddie61]

Right on cue there's the plea for an extension although this time ' kindly ' is included.

Of course it's never the fault of LoS, as with the air safety issue, what's wrong with doing nothing until threatened with a ban then spring into action and ask for more time. People really need to understand.

There are only three ways to make anything happen in LOS: use one of three levers. "Face", money and a whip.

Thais are obsessed by the first two, and realise that elsewhere laws count. It's a bit like training a dog. Give them food or stroke them behind the ears, and as a last resort the whip.

I think western governments have finally caught on. Morality simply does not work here!

Edited April 23, 2015 by eddie61

[Lupatria]

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expects the European Union (EU) to give Thailand another chance to address problems in its fishing industry…

Must be hard for him to realize: “My order stops at the border.”

[quandow]

"He pointed out that the government has already made huge progress"

I sprinkled that statement on my flowers, they grew much better.

[Lupatria]

In his shoes I would not hang my expectations too high as the EU is already taking measures just in case Thailand is fooling around again:

The European Union on Tuesday cleared the way for Philippine fish exports to the 28-member bloc after it took stock of the country's achievements in curbing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/EU-lifts-trade-warning-on-Philippine-fish-exports-30258585.html

[catweazle]

Free, and release all the burmese slaves on the fishing boats, leave floating the exact amount of fishing boats the fleet owners and their families could sail themselves, sink the rest; sink without warning any fishing boat moored at or fishing in marine park areas - problem solved!

[lvr181]

Always seems to be much "gum bashing" but VERY LITTLE ACTION from the authorities. ASKING the fishing industry to "join hands"? MAKE them comply!! Not rocket science is it?

[tracker1]

second chance third chance Section 44 No Problem !

[lucky11]

Yet another instance where article 44 (when used responsibly) has proved to be worth its weight in gold.

He should have implemented this right from the off as it seems to be the biggest problem solver going (without the red tape and unnecessary procedures and hurdles to overcome to slow things down)!!

I should add, that if Thaksin had used it he would be the sole owner of Company Thailand by now!!

[lucky11]

Free, and release all the burmese slaves on the fishing boats, leave floating the exact amount of fishing boats the fleet owners and their families could sail themselves, sink the rest; sink without warning any fishing boat moored at or fishing in marine park areas - problem solved!

But where would Sysco get their supplies from and how would Walmart and the other American retail giants fill their shelves with Thai sea food products if they did this?

I think that they should be a little more concerned about the 100,000 strong slave labour market in India rather than the mere hundreds of exploited here - oh, I forgot, several clothes retailers in the UK such as Primark and Mothercare source their clothes from these 'slave labour' producers!!

Why is Thailand on the tier 3 watch category when India is at least a couple of notches up the ladder when they are by far worse offenders.

[UKCanuk]

Clearly the PM doesn't see a problem. All he has to do is to invoke section 44 and the EU will bow and rescind the yellow card.

[Muirton]

Is there one issue he has solved?

[Lupatria]

Is there one issue he has solved?

Of course! Costas is running out of excuses in his defense for two days already

[chickenslegs]

The only people who can fix the problems in the Thai fisheries industry are the multi-billionaires who are raking in the profits.

The PM needs to call in a few of them for "attitude adjustment".

Will it happen? Answers in a sealed envelope marked "NO" please.

[Thai at Heart]

It has been given a 6 month warning. That is by definition a second chance.

[cookee68]

Everything is section 44 when they are in trouble, wow that article covers everything

[Cake Monster]

The only chance the happiness guru has to fix the fishing issues is this one.

Member Countries of the EU, along with many other nations, are becoming very weary of Thailands attitude toward anything that is International law.

If Thailand wants to be a player in the " big " world ( as they already think they are ) then they have to play by the big worlds rules, and those rules will not move one Centimeter to accommodate a small nation that thinks they are impervious to any restrictions imposed.

The screws appear to be slowly being turned on Thailand by forces way outside their control.

[Strangebrew]

Mr PM you need to either shape up or ship out. You should ask your buddy Vladimir how those US sanctions Are doing for the ruble these's days. Playing footsie with China and Russia can bring a lot of harm to Thailand. And you can bet your last satong that Thailand is being watched very closely.

[Praematura]

Someone at the top should consider bringing in an outside group to do an audit. The audit could make recommendations as to how best use Artie 44. It's kind of ludicrous but dear leader and his kleptocracy doesn't seem to have a solution in sight. Hopefully this mess doesn't go 6 months and this country loses 500 million in trade. I could see the USA following suit and Japan not far behind. Tell me it's not going to cost billions in lost trade before they figure out a solution...[emoji19]

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed as well as a reply.