Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Rice contamination fears grow; Floating parade marks Buddhist Lent; Sadao named in Deep South ceasefire; Ramkhamhaeng bombers in court

– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: A consumer watchdog is calling on the government to inspect packaged rice after random tests found several samples to be tainted with high levels of methyl bromide, which is used to kill rice-eating bugs.

Meanwhile, three state agencies – the Agriculture Department, the Medical Sciences Department and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – said they found no contamination in tests they conducted earlier.

Saree Ongsomwang, secretary-general for the Foundation for Consumers, said her agency had teamed up with the Bio Thai Foundation to collect 46 random samples of packaged rice sold under 36 brands to test for chemical substances, including methyl bromide, organophosphate, carbamate compounds and fungicide.

All samples, collected between June 19 and 27 from supermarkets, retail shops and department stores, were tested at an independent laboratory.

Tests found that 12 of the 46 samples were free of contamination, but traces of methyl bromide were found in 34 samples, of which one sample was found to have exceeded the safe level with 67.4 milligram per kilogram of the chemical. As per the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) codex, levels of methyl bromide in food should not exceed 50mg per kg.

“We do not intend to damage anybody’s reputation. We just want to raise public awareness on the safety of packaged rice and urge related agencies to boost the standards,” Saree said.

Meanwhile, Niphon Popattanachai, director-general of the Medical Sciences Department, said he had instructed officials to inspect the brands found to have been contaminated and check if these products have been registered with the FDA.

“People should not panic over the report as the contamination is still within safe limits,” he said.

Previously, the department teamed up with the FDA to conduct tests on 54 samples of packaged rice and found very small traces of methyl bromide and no sign of any other related pesticides.

Separately, the Agriculture Department tested 10 brands of rice and found no contamination.

A representative of the packaged rice brand that was found to have high levels of methyl bromide said his firm would recall all tainted products from the market, but wanted the Foundation for Consumers to provide them with more details such as lot numbers. He said he would conduct further investigation.

“No related agencies have said anything about the health impacts of consuming rice with high levels of methyl bromide,” he said, adding that he was not thinking of filing a lawsuit against the foundation yet.

PHUKET: Concern is growing among the business sector in the South about a Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) statement that includes Sadao district in Songkhla in a temporary ceasefire for the terror-plagued region. The statement is a threat to Sadao’s vibrant economy, the Songkhla Chamber of Commerce said.

Democrat Party deputy leader Thaworn Senneam yesterday urged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as well as National Security Council Secretary-general Lt General Paradorn Pattanatabutr to officially deny that Sadao is a part of the violence-ravaged zone. “From 2004 until now, Sadao has never seen any unrest,” the Democrat said.

Somporn Siriporananon, who chairs the Songkhla Chamber of Commerce, said the recent BRN statement had already had some psychological effects.

“The private sector, in particular investors, is worried. If Sadao becomes a part of the unrest zone, the business framework and guidelines may have to change,” he said.

Somporn said he therefore supported the call for the government to announce firmly that Sadao is by no means part of the zone of unrest. “Without a clear stance from the authorities, problems will arise,” he warned.

According to Thai authorities, the unrest only affects Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and four districts in Songkhla – Chana, Thepha, Na Thawi and Saba Yoi.

BRN, which has had several rounds of talks with Thai officials, announced a ceasefire plan for Ramadan. While the announcement was welcomed, several figures were concerned about its inclusion of Sadao.

According to Thaworn, Sadao attracts about 2 million tourists each year. Imports and exports via this border town are in the tune of about Bt500 billion. “I ask why Thai authorities have kept silent for many days – the BRN statement came out last Friday,” Thaworn said.

Paradorn yesterday tried to play down concerns about the inclusion of Sadao, explaining that a number of Thais would return from Malaysia to Sadao during the Ramadan – that was why the BRN included Sadao in the ceasefire plan. “BRN wants peace for Sadao too,” he said.

Deputy PM Pracha Promnog, who oversees security affairs, said he would need more time to discuss the matter with relevant officials before deciding whether the government should issue a letter of protest over BRN’s inclusion of Sadao.

With the start of Ramadan, unrest in the South looks to have subsided.

“During the first six days of the Ramadan, only one violent incident erupted and the two victims sustained minor injuries. The situation was much better than the same period in recent years,” Pracha said.

However, Yala saw three shootings on Monday and yesterday. Two victims died and the other sustained injuries. “We are investigating these cases,” Yala police chief Maj-General Phira Boonliang said.

PHUKET: Ladchado, a small community in Ayutthaya province, marks the arrival of Vassa, the Buddhist Lent on Monday with a modest yet spectacular candle festival on Monday that sees the candles carried to temples in a long and colourful procession of boats..

“Like many things in Ladchado, the candle festival is celebrated along the waterway. Boats and canals play a major role in our lives,” says an official from Ladchado Administration Office. “Imagine hundreds of small sampans and other boats, decorated with flowers and colourful parasols bobbing in the water as they emerge from the far side of canal.”

Tucked away in Phak Hai district, Ladchado is about 40 kilometres west of downtown Ayutthaya. Named after the canal that links Ayutthaya and Suphan Buri, the old community dates back to the 16th century, when the Ayutthaya Kingdom ruled over the Chao Phraya Basin and the Central Plain. Ladchado had to wait until the 21st Century before it drew attention from outsiders, although two early episodes of the popular Boonchu movies were shot in the area.

The peaceful lifestyle, remote setting as well as the old, charming marketplace of Ladchado are gradually becoming known among weekenders, who come to the community to get away from the stress of city life and take advantage of the home-stay facilities offered by the villagers.

With amateur lensmen uploading spectacular photos to the Internet, Ladchado has also become known as one of the best places to see the candle festival.

Together with other Buddhist communities across the country, Ladchado will celebrate the candle f

— Phuket Gazette Editors