Thailand Politics

Thailand’s ‘Young Bloods’ Vow to Finally End Military Dominance in Politics

BANGKOK – Outspoken young politicians are pushing on the doors to Thailand’s corridors of power, just as the military government marks its fourth anniversary on Tuesday and the country braces for a long-promised election early next year.

The “young bloods,” as they are known, are promising to pull the nation out of its cycle of coups and achieve its economic potential. Leading the pack is Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the scion of the billionaire family that runs the country’s largest auto parts supplier. The 39-year-old decided to leave his position as executive vice president and director of Thai Summit Group to form a new political party, the Future Forward Party, earlier this year.

In an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review, Thanathorn vowed to stop military interventions in politics. “Every time democracy takes root into this country, the military will come in and crush it,” he said.

Thailand has experienced 12 coups in the last eight-plus decades, including the one that established a constitutional monarchy in 1932. “Would you like your children to see a coup d’etat every eight years? No,” Thanathorn said. “No one has mentioned this but enough is enough.”

If his party were to take power, Thanathorn said the first job would be to move the military compounds out of Bangkok to ensure the generals stay out of politics. He also said the constitution that was drafted and adopted under the current regime should be scrapped.

Thanathorn believes it is high time to end the turmoil that has gripped the country for more than a decade, due to the deep divide between the largely poor and rural supporters of fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the Bangkok elites who oppose his brand of populism. The coup in May 2014, led by the current junta, toppled the elected government of Thaksin’s younger sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.

“If you look back over the past four years, all the resources of [Prime Minister] Prayuth Chan-ocha have been put into one cause and one cause only — that is to destroy Thaksin’s movement,” Thanathorn said. “With this mindset, how can you think about the future? The cost we are paying is the economic progress of the country.”

Thanathorn’s emergence seems to be creating a tail wind for up and comers in established parties, too.

Varawut Silpa-archa is the son of former Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa. The 44-year-old is a former parliament member and belongs to the Chart Thai Pattana Party, a traditional force that has joined several coalition governments in the past. “It is wonderful that the country is paying attention to the younger-generation politicians,” Varawut told Nikkei. “I have never seen something like this before in the entire Thai history.”

Varawut, who was first elected at age 27, has a built-in defense against critics who say the young bloods lack political experience. His resume also includes an education in the U.K. and the U.S., as well as a period when he worked as a banker. He suggested that this background, coupled with his party’s strong foothold in the central province of Suphan Buri, 100km north of Bangkok, enables him to “understand how the rural people think, how the urban think and how the international think.”

Many of the young bloods hail from established, wealthy families but are keen to prove they can stand for wider interests. One such figure is Parit Wacharasindhu, the 26-year-old nephew of the leader of the Democrat Party — the largest adversary to the Pheu Thai Party, with a history of over 70 years.

Parit is currently fulfilling his military service obligations. Though all Thai men are enrolled in the draft when they turn 20, the sons of rich and well-connected families often manage to avoid serving. Parit’s uncle, former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, was often accused of dodging the draft.

Parit is to complete his service later this year, in time to join the Democrat Party ahead of the general election now expected by February. He has pledged to become an agent of change for the party.

“The young bloods should be a source of hope, especially for young voters who want to see change,” said Chaiyand Chaiyaporn, a lecturer in Chulalongkorn University’s political science faculty. The next general election will be the first since 2011, barring a 2014 poll that was declared invalid, and millions of first-time voters are expected to go to the polls.

“The new wave is a good sign for politics in a country that has been dominated by the same faces for decades,” Chaiyand said.

But real change may take time. Anusorn Tamajai, dean of the faculty of economics at Rangsit University, said the newcomers will have to back up their words with action to win real support.

“All parties say they want to decentralize power, but what will convince the voters is their ability to deliver,” he said. Thaksin’s Pheu Thai Party, for example, secured a large support base because it followed through on promised policies, such as universal health care and subsidies for rice farmers.

“Not that these policies are right or wrong, but it is an example of a strong brand, which maintains confidence among the voters,” Anusorn said.

For a new party like Thanathorn’s Future Forward, there is also the challenge of fielding enough candidates. There are 350 constituencies in the next election.

Thanathorn acknowledges the tough road ahead. “I totally understand the hurdles that we are going to face in the future if we push our course forward,” he said.

“The next election will be only one battle in a long war. If we win it, we push, but if we don’t, we will continue to build and work for the understanding of the people.”

By Yukako Ono
Nikkei Asian Review

Thailand Politics

Thai Prime Minister’s Popularity Declines as Move Forward Party dominates

(CTN News) – Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin continues to make local and international visits to try to solve problems and promote Thailand, but he has failed to impress most voters, according to a Nida poll. The poll also revealed the declining popularity of Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the rise of the Move Forward Party.

According to a poll released on Sunday, only 12.85% of people supported the prime minister, down from 17.75% in the previous survey. The daughter of convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin, currently on parole, saw her popularity drop from 6% to 4.85%.

The National Institute of Development Administration conducts a quarterly survey of the public’s preferred political leaders. The last survey was released at the end of March.

According to the survey, supporters of the prime minister described Mr Srettha as a resolute decision-maker determined to address their problems. Ms Paetongtarn was complimented for her vision, leadership, knowledge, and grasp of the country’s difficulties.

This weekend, the prime minister will be in the northeast region listening to citizens’ concerns. The journey occurred only a few days after he had visited northern provinces earlier in the week.

Despite criticism, he has reduced his abroad trips, citing the need to showcase Thailand to investors and traders.

Pita Limjaroenrat, the chief advisor of the Move Forward Party, remained the top candidate for prime minister with 45.50% of the vote, up slightly from 42.75% in the previous quarter’s poll.

Pirapan Salirathavibhaga was the huge winner. The leader of the United Thai National Party saw his popularity nearly quadruple from 3.55% to 6.85%.

The sampled voters stated they appreciated Mr Pita’s political beliefs and thought he had broad knowledge. They praised Mr Pirapan’s credibility, claiming he was clean and honest.

Two other probable prime minister candidates were Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Thai Sang Thai Party and Anutin Chanvirakul, leader of Bhumjaithai. However, they were less popular than others.

About 20% of voters still did not believe any candidate was qualified to lead the country, which is the same percentage as in the last survey.

Move Forward Party was the most popular party with 49.20%, up slightly from three months ago, while Pheu Thai fell around five percentage points to 16.85% from 22.10%.

The poll, issued on Sunday, surveyed 2,000 ineligible voters between June 14 and June 18.

Thailand Politics

Move Forward Party MP Jirat Thongsuwan Appeals Suspended Jail Sentence for Defamation

(CTN News) – Jirat Thongsuwan, a Move Forward Party MP, says he would appeal his one-year suspended jail sentence for defaming a former senior defense ministry official concerning the state’s procurement of bogus bomb detectors.

The Criminal Court also fined Mr Jirat 100,000 baht for falsely accusing ACM Tharet Punsri, a former Air Force chief-of-staff who later became the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, of being the chairman and shareholder of a company that supplied the military with the infamous GT200 bomb detectors.

The Chachoengsao MP claimed a July 20, 2022, no-confidence vote against cabinet ministers in Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government. ACM Tharet was not a cabinet member.

Jirat Thongsuwan also identified ACM Tharet as a key figure in the 2006 coup headed by then-army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, which overthrew Thaksin Shinawatra.

ACM Tharet told the court that Jirat Thongsuwan’s charges were false and harmed his reputation. He denied involvement with the bomb detection company and said he was not the company’s senior chairman or shareholder.

In addition to the suspended jail term and fine, the court ordered Jirat Thongsuwan to pay $ 500,000 baht in damages to ACM Tharet and publish an apology in three newspapers for five days.

Jirat Thongsuwan later announced on his X account that he had challenged the verdict with the hashtag “An injustice is infuriating”.

The MP has also been accused of dodging required military conscription. He admitted to the accusation on May 8.

A British business promoted the GT200 as a “remote substance detector” and sold it in several countries. Between 2004 and 2009, fourteen Thai government organizations, most of which were military, were projected to spend 1.4 billion baht on the units.

Concerns about the GT200 and related gadgets arose after the National Science and Technology Development Agency discovered they lacked electronic components.

The devices were later revealed to be “divining rods”.

Thailand Politics

Thaksin Shinawatra Files 100 Million Baht Defamation Lawsuit Against Warong Dechgitvigrom

(CTN News) – Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister, has launched a defamation action against Warong Dechgitvigrom, the head of the Thai Pakdee Party, accusing him of paying a bribe to be released on bail in a lese majeste case.

Thaksin’s attorney, Winyat Chartmontree, filed a lawsuit against Warong, seeking 100 million baht in damages.

Warong, a long-time Thaksin Shinawatra critic, gave a public statement and posted on social media, saying that 2 billion baht was paid to judicial officials in exchange for release on bail in the lese majeste case.

Thaksin Shinawatra Granted Release on 500,000 Baht Bond

Thaksin was granted release on a 500,000 baht bond last week and told not to leave the country without court authorization after pleading innocent to charges of defaming King Rama IX in a 2015 interview with South Korean media.

Winyat stated that, while Warong did not identify Thaksin Shinawatra by name in his speech or post, he did include a hashtag with Thaksin’s name as well as the date Thaksin must appear in court, allowing readers to connect Thaksin to the allegations.

Winyat further stated that he was investigating the fact that Warong mentioned the specific aircraft and automobiles utilized by Thaksin Shinawatra to violate the Personal Data Protection Act.

“I have requested Mr Warong to provide proof as to where he received the data. “If it turns out that it came from state officials, there will be legal consequences,” he warned.

The Criminal Court has scheduled the case’s preliminary hearing for September 30.