BANGKOK, 18 October 2014 – Provincial governors have been told to look closer into the plights of people in their provinces, especially into the problem of debts incurred from non-formal loans, after a woman set herself on fire this week upon learning that officials at a government-run help center for the public were unable to help her clear debts worth 1.5 million baht.
According to Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda, about 400 complaints have been submitted to the government’s Damrong Tham help centers in the provinces, and 257 of the cases have been solved, leaving 98 outstanding cases. He said non-formal loans are illegal, and the provincial governors and the local police need to come up with measures to address them.
According to M.L. Panadda Diskul, the minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, 4,224 complaints about non-formal loans have been lodged with the service center for the public at Government House.
Police General Woraphong Chiewpricha, the deputy commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, said the police force possessed a list of the individuals known to be non-formal lenders. The police are monitoring their behavior, and will make arrests on anyone of the individuals if he/she clearly breaks the law.
