Thai fishery exports: EU's motive behind yellow card queried

[Peabody]

""Thailand should seek alternative markets," he concluded, adding the Middle East seemed a logical alternative market and Thailand's fishery exports to the region were still low.

Praporn warned that even if Thailand succeeded in improving its fishery standards, it could mean a 20 to 30 per cent rise in the cost of marine produce and could in effect make Thail fisheries not competitive enough. It could even reduce the level of profits."

No comment needed

This from the other fishing thread:

"Mr. Pridiyathorn says the weaknesses found by the EU in the fishing industry have been resolved."

Possibly, Mssrs. Pridyathorn & Praporn need to talk to each other

[recycler]

If there is one country famous for protectionism.......

They still don't get it and keep shooting at their own feet instead of solving the issues.

[DM07]

Like little children!

Very stupid and very little children!

Jeeeez!

Of course, it is not Thailands fault, but everybody elses, for not understanding!

[skildpadden]

Risking being called a Thai basher, but my dear Khun Ekuru, but if you are a former MP and head of a fishing association - and you feel that using slave labor, destroying coral reefs, fishing in marine sanctuaries and generally over fishing is OK and anybody thinking otherwise are annoying the greatness of modern Thai fishing industry, you and fellow assocation members are almost as intelligent than the very fish you haul out of the sea.

Protectionism? Nope but the EU does concern proteting the marine enviroment.

But hey, speaking of protectionism, care to discuss the Thai protectionist barriers you as an MP has been part of creating e.g. towards EU?

[hansnl]

Oh dear!

In these matters one should never express one's thoughts.

One should remain silent.

Very undiplomatic indeed.

And rather stupid,

[hugh2121]

Protectionism? Who is it that has a minimum import tax on all imports, including food and medicines? I really don't understand why the EU and US do not respond with import taxes on Thai produce.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

So... the message from the Thai fishing folks down South is... the only way we can have a competitively marketed seafood industry is to use slave labor, illegal boats, and various other unsavory practices. If we are denied those tools, then we can't compete in the EU market, and have to take out exports to the Middle East, where presumably they don't care how the seafood is obtained.

[alant]

let me see, the EU is accused of adopting protectionist policies by Thailand...

Maybe they have started to learn from the masters of protectionism?

Cars not built in Thailand, mega duty, luxury goods, mega duty, booze, mega duty, food, mega duty, motorbike not built in Thailand, mega duty and on and on

[greenchair]

It's Thaksin's fault.

[soalbundy]

It's Thaksin's fault.

No it's not, the brakes failed.

[SOTIRIOS]

...what sociopathic nonsense...

..unless the decks are stacked...they 'won't play'.....

[toolpush]

This guy sounds just like Obambi, refuses to accept responsibilty and blame everyone else.

[lovelomsak]

This guy is a genius he was able to figure why they did this.

"They're using this time-frame to pressure us," Niphon concluded.

[rethaier]

It could even reduce the level of profits.

Yes I suppose if you had to pay for labour that would in fact reduce profit levels. And profit is all you buzzards care about.

[Thaddeus]

Oh dear!

In these matters one should never express one's thoughts.

One should remain silent.

Very undiplomatic indeed.

And rather stupid,

In the west the lesson has been well learned by most heads of whatever that to avoid sounding like a fool it is better to remain silent.

Here, they grab the microphone and crank up the volume.

[Suffinator]

SONGKHLA Fishery Association president Praporn Ekuru said the issuing of a yellow card for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices and the threat to ban Thai fishery exports could have been driven by the European Union's economic protectionism or its desire to see the military regime of General Prayut Chan-o-cha return the country to democracy.

Yeah that's right blame it on the foreigners; after all it's irrelevant that Thailand is complicit in the trafficking of persons, slavery, rape and murder.

Praporn can thank his lucky stars it wasn't my decision for there wouldn't be a yellow card I would have just imposed a ban with immediate effect. You see there remains some people in this world that strongly believes that human trafficking, slavery, rape and murder are crimes that should be punished ... I guess Thailand and the Thai people don't feel that way but rather it's just business as usual and providing the money keeps on rolling in then all is fine.

The Songkhla Fishery Association president, who is also a former MP of the Democrat Party, said he had no confidence that Thailand would be able to meet the deadline for adjustment and improvement, despite the fact that the Kingdom had been trying to deal with the issues for years now.

And there you go ... trying for years to solve a problem that can be solved in months providing the country wasn't corrupt from the top to the bottom.

"Thailand should seek alternative markets," he concluded, adding the Middle East seemed a logical alternative market and Thailand's fishery exports to the region were still low.

Yes and let's hope these countries have a conscience and ban the trade due to the heinous way it is operated.

Praporn warned that even if Thailand succeeded in improving its fishery standards, it could mean a 20 to 30 per cent rise in the cost of marine produce and could in effect make Thai fisheries not competitive enough. It could even reduce the level of profits.

And now we once again start getting at the truth ... PROFIT. Yeah paying workers instead of having slaves certain cuts into the profit margin; something that no Thai wants. Could you possibly sink any lower?

Conclusion ... these morons are delusional if they really think this is a protectionist move by the EU or that the EU is in some way trying to force out the military junta. The statements that have been made are quite frankly testament to the despicable lack of consideration for other human beings and clearly shows just how greedy a Thai can be. Again, thank your lucky stars it's not my decision because I wouldn't just hit you with a fishing ban it would be every product this vile country produces.

[razer]

I agree something drastic needs to be done in Thailand.

However, should the ban go into effect, to be sure, seafood prices in Europe will increase dramatically

and many fat cats will reap a whirlwind of money.

[mrblue]

listen who's talking about protectionism...

[Lupatria]

The impertinence of this guy (Songkhla Fishery Association president, and former MP) who is obviously unable to read and understand the content of articles in newspapers is unmatched even in view of the daily inept remarks of other “officials”:

• It could be protectionism…

This is a word any Thai official should simply avoid before judging other countries.

• They should not have set such a deadline… and- "They're using this time-frame to pressure us"

Is it short memory or simply ignorance? There have been many deadlines, warnings and as many broken promises on the Thai side for decades.

• It may also have to do with the [military government's roadmap to return democracy] and pressuring of the military…

The deadlines, warnings and all broken promises on the Thai side were made long before the junta took over.

• "What agenda do they have?"

By using common sense instead of Thainess one may discover the answer: trafficking and killing people, kidnapping and slavery out of pure greed is not considered legitimate in the civilized part of the world.

• "It will become more expensive.”

Now we are talking. Isn’t that exactly the lame excuse for your wrongdoings you were counting on?

• Perhaps we have to think about exporting other goods instead.

And what would that be? Lectures in humanity, Thainess, high moral standards, and corruption?

This country should be ashamed of ex-MP’s and the president of one of the most powerful associations for making such stupid statements.

Sorry for the long post

[steveyinasia]

Why is this person trying to pass the buck and not just admit their are serious issues with the Thai fishing industry?

Because that is Thainess....when you cannot fix the corrupt practices, you blame others.

[Mot Dang]

Under warranted criticism Thailand seems to always want to hold the critic in contempt. The more often Thailand spits the dummy, the more often the world shakes its head at the kindergarten politics displayed. I can't think of an issue in recent history where Thailand has tried to lead by example.

Why does this international paranoia prevail ? Why do successive Thai administrations want to reject warranted international criticism ? Loss of face ? Or is it this related somehow to Thailand's one and only claim to fame, that they were never colonized, and therefore wont listen to those who wanted to colonize them ? Just another example of the misnomer, "Thainess".

[laislica]

1) <Snip>Praporn warned that even if Thailand succeeded in improving its fishery standards, it could mean a 20 to 30 per cent rise in the cost of marine produce and could in effect make Thail fisheries not competitive enough. It could even reduce the level of profits.<Snip>

The real reason for Praporn's rant? Did everyone miss this ^^^^^?

and this?

2) <Snip> Niphon acknowledged that the Kingdom must improve its fishery industry and bring it up to international standards, but it should not have taken the EU to tell it what to do.<Snip>

3) <Snip> "It reflects our irresponsibility. I'm not confident that we can meet the deadline unless we put up a show [to deceive]."<Snip>

So in order of priority the complaint is about:

1) Profit

2) Face

3) Mi pen rai, we will deceive and everything will be OK!

Methinks this is the same the world over as described in Tom Lehrer's song "My Home Town", written over 60 years ago!

Enjoy cos nothing is changing fast here 5 5 5 :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pdkNp1X4n8

My Home Town - Tom Lehrer

I really have a yen
To go back once again,
Back to the place where no one wears a frown,
To see once more those super-special just plain folks
In my home town.

No fellow could ignore
The little girl next door,
She sure looked sweet in her first evening gown.
Now there's a charge for what she used to give for free
In my home town.

I remember Dan, the druggist on the corner, he
Was never mean or orner-y,
He was swell.
He killed his mother-in-law and ground her up real well,
And sprinkled just a bit
Over each banana split.

The guy that taught us math,
Who never took a bath,
Acquired a certain measure of renown,
And after school he sold the most amazing pictures
In my home town.

That fellow was no fool
Who taught our Sunday School,
And neither was our kindly Parson Brown -
(We're recording tonight, so I'll have to leave this line out.) *
In my home town.

I remember Sam, he was the village idiot,
And though it seems a pity, it
Was so.
He loved to burn down houses just to watch the glow,
And nothing could be done,
Because he was the mayor's son.

The guy that took a knife
And monogrammed his wife,
Then dropped her in the pond and watched her drown.
Oh, yes indeed, the people there are just plain folks
In my home town.

[RigPig]

"Praporn warned that even if Thailand succeeded in improving its fishery standards, it could mean a 20 to 30 per cent rise in the cost of marine produce and could in effect make Thail fisheries not competitive enough. It could even reduce the level of profits."

Welcome to the real world Thailand. Grow up. Please.

So what he is saying is 20 to 30% of profits from the fishing industry is made on the backs of slave labour.......

They should start by arresting him !!

[Balance]

He clearly fails to comprehend the two actual reasons:

A belief that the world needs to adopt sustainable, fishing practices that do no harm to the environment.that means you do not take more than what is produced and you stop dragging weighted nets along the sea floor.

That the EU could actually believe that using slave labor is not such a good idea and is a crime for which all who do should be in prison.

Underlying the need to come up with a conspiracy theory is the unspoken anger that while the western countries did the same things in the past they now deny to emerging counties. While there is some appeal to this "you did it and we should be able to do it too" argument, it just can not work that way. Now there are simply too many people in the world and too much pressure on the resources.

Ending slavery in the United States 150 years ago cost 620,000 people their lives. That price that was paid to affirm the humanity of all people means something to Americans and to the European countries that also paid high prices to end the despicable practice.

Thai officials seem to have problems really believing that these "non economic" concepts are behind their motivations. It is a classic "failure to communicate" issue, but one that will ultimately hurt Thailand if it continues to choose not to understand.

[Godders]

That's right, idiots - blame the ref.

[Thai at Heart]

Idiot. Absolute idiot. One of the most shamelessly idiotic interviews I have ever read. Absolutely idiotic

[Oziex1]

I agree something drastic needs to be done in Thailand.

However, should the ban go into effect, to be sure, seafood prices in Europe will increase dramatically

and many fat cats will reap a whirlwind of money.

I don't understand if the prices are driven up by compliance to a fair, just and environmentally acceptable fishing industry. Profits will still be there but probably not as massive as when over fishing and using slave labour.

Also if demand is reduced by high prices the prices will come down or the catch will be reduced.

[thaiturkey]

I agree with this Thai twerp on just one point........the 6 month time-frame is unreasonable.

IMMEDIATE BAN ON ALL THAI EXPORTS!

[lvr181]

Yeah blame everyone else!

“….the six-month deadline given to Thailand to improve itself as being unreasonable. …..despite the fact that the Kingdom had been trying to deal with the issues for years now.” (My italics and bold).

Six years of inaction perhaps? Surprise surprise!

Edited May 7, 2015 by lvr181

[fareastguy]

The usual Thai ministerial response to being given an ultimatum:

lets keep the s**t working conditions,

lets keep the human trafficking
lets keep the un-registered fishing boats

lets keep GPS off-ships so they can poach into restricted areas

lets keep taking stocks until there's nothing left

lets keep the profits a priority

Lets just ignore the warning & find new customers!!!!

Is this guy for real????