Regional News

Election to go ahead Sunday, Anti-Government Protesters Vow to Blockade Polls

Thailand’s Iron Lady? Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra leaves the Army Club after meeting the Election Commission in Bangkok on Tuesday. The commission wanted to postpone Sunday’s vote but she overruled them.

BANGKOK – When Yingluck Shinawatra inherited her older brother’s job as prime minister of Thailand just over two years ago, many thought she was just his puppet.

Indeed, few thought she would be up to the job of governing Thailand’s notoriously divided country with its recurring, bloody bouts of mass unrest.

But this week, without the presence of her exiled elder brother, Thaksin, ousted in the 2006 military coup, she faced down Thailand’s electoral commission, which wanted to postpone Sunday’s general election — a move that could have made Thailand’s fragile democracy look even more ungovernable and open to another military takeover.

Yingluck insisted that the Feb. 2 election must go ahead, despite threats of blockades and the escalating violence that has dogged the country these past months.

Added to that, the government has chosen Feb. 3, the day after the election, to launch its long-awaited crackdown on the protest movement and reclaim government buildings that have been taken over or besieged by protesters

Before that happens, the two sides are meeting on Friday to try to negotiate a peaceful end to the stalemate. But it is hard to see what compromise might emerge that would bridge such a large chasm.

Thais were given a taste of the electoral confrontation when the advance election was held this past weekend. Protesters besieged polling stations and physically prevented people from voting.

In the rainbow that makes up Thai politics, the core of the protest movement are the “yellow shirts,” who adopt the colour of the Thai Royal Family as their banner

They don’t want to see any election until Yingluck is gone and the electoral system has been reformed (although the details of how that will be done are vague).

Opposing them are the pro-government “red shirts,” who showed their colours during the advance election by beating up several protesters who had forced the closure of a polling station in the south of Bangkok.

Many Thais suspect red-shirt involvement in the shooting death of a prominent protest leader that day as well.

Unhindered by either the police or the army, the blockades resulted in the forced closure of 111 out of 548 polling stations across Thailand, mostly in Bangkok and the south, the yellow-shirt stronghold.

If the same thing happens again Sunday, the general election could turn into a shambles.

Not only will protesters disenfranchise a large proportion of the voting population, there may not even be enough elected members to make up a quorum in parliament — which would present a whole new set of problems.

Army divided too?

To rescue the upcoming election, 200,000 police will be deployed to guard polling stations across Thailand.

It is a risky move on the part of Yingluck, because it could result in the kind of violent clashes the government has tried hard to avoid.

The army will also be deployed to protect the polling stations, including a psychological unit that will attempt to cool any confrontations.

So far the army has stayed out of the political crisis, even as rallies across Bangkok continue to paralyze the capital.

Army chief, general Prayuth Chan-ocha, said last week that the military will only take action if the political situation turns violent.

In the past, the army has not been shy to resolve political crises by launching coups, and has always come down on the side of the yellow shirts.

Army officers are sometimes referred to as “pineapples” — green on the outside but yellow on the inside (although by the same token many enlisted soldiers are nicknamed “watermelons” — green on the outside but red on the inside).

But this time the army is acting less partisan. Gen. Prayuth added his own colour to the mix by insisting that the military was neither red nor yellow but “grey.”

As well, it’s probably fair to say that the level of violence that would force a military intervention has not been seen.

Despite provocations — two grenade attacks and several shootings — the thousands of protesters in downtown Bangkok have remained largely peaceful.

Meanwhile, the red shirts in their stronghold to the north and east of Thailand have refrained from marching on the capital or holding rallies there, as they did in the past with sometimes fatal results.

As long as the election is not postponed, they see no reason to provoke a fight as their side is expected to do well.

Colour of neutrality

As for the vast majority of Thais, they are fast adopting the colour of a movement opposed to both extremes.

Supporters of the “Respect My Vote” movement have been holding their own rallies in Bangkok and wearing white, the colour of neutrality.

They insist they are neither pro- nor anti-government, they simply want the right to express their opinions at the ballot box.

They may well be the majority on Sunday, but they seem largely powerless to stop the better organized and more vocal extremes on the colour chart.

Ironically, some analysts think the opposition Democrat Party would have had a good chance at the polls if it had decided to run on Sunday, instead of throwing its lot in with the anti-Yingluck protesters and boycotting the election.

Yingluck’s re-election, which looked a certainty in December when she dissolved parliament, is now only a certainty because of the lack of opposition.

In early December she enjoyed unfaltering support from her stronghold in the north and east, where a generous government rice-buying scheme was making farmers rich.

But now these same farmers are themselves protesting and blockading roads, because although the government took their rice in October, it hasn’t yet paid them for it.

“I have plunged into debt because of the policy of this government,” a farmer called Somkuan Songjaeng told a Thai newspaper. “I won’t vote for [Yingluck’s] Pheu Thai Party in the upcoming election.”

This week, as a sign of the growing despair, two indebted farmers committed suicide.

Regional News

Thai Immigration Police Detain Over 26,000 Illegal Migrant Workers

Thailand’s Immigration Police have detained approximately 26,000 illegal migrant workers from Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia during an eight-day operation in Bangkok and surrounding regions, according to a Royal Thai Police spokesperson.

Mr Adisorn Keudmeuangkhon of the Bangkok-based Migrant Working Group said the drive was in response to an increasing number of concerns about an influx of illegal migrant labor.

“Some Thai people see that many illegal workers are competing for their job positions in the past few months,” he told me. “That’s why the ministry has to take tougher action.”

Civil strife in Myanmar and the recent implementation of a military conscription have driven thousands of Burmese into Thailand, while severe inflation and limited job opportunities in Laos have also encouraged an influx of workers from that country.

Between June 5 and 12, officials detained and checked 20,111 Myanmar laborers, 1,659 Laotian migrant workers, and 3,971 Cambodian workers, according to the Ministry of Labor.

It marked the start of a 120-day campaign to audit workplaces and arrest unlawful migrant workers, according to the government.

Migrant Workers to be Deported

According to Keudmeuangkhon, undocumented workers face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 Thai baht (US $136 to $1,365), deportation, and a two-year prohibition on re-entering Thailand.

Authorities did not intend to file criminal charges, he claimed.

Authorities raided 1,774 workplaces, according to Moe Gyo, chairman of the Joint Action Committee on Burmese Affairs, which advocates for Myanmar labor rights.

He stated that since the military junta activated conscription, there has been an upsurge in the number of arrests of Myanmar citizens in Thailand who do not have a work permit identity card.

All men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 must serve in the military for at least two years. The first group of 5,000 conscripts summoned by Myanmar’s junta will start duty at the end of this month, military sources told AFP on Monday.

According to Keudmeuangkhon, the bulk of Lao migrant workers in Thailand work as fresh market shopkeepers, restaurant servers, and mall salespeople.

Most people visit Thailand as part of ASEAN’s visa-free policy for tourists, but they stay longer than the 30-day restriction once they find job.

“Employers like to hire Lao migrant workers in the service sector because they can speak fluent Thai,” he told me.

Immigration Police Detain Illegal Migrant Workers

The Thai Cabinet may approve an enhanced program for Thai employers to register their unauthorized foreign workers in July or August. Keudmeuangkhon explained.

Last month, the Thai Ministry of Labor’s Foreign Workers Administration office announced that 268,465 Lao migrant workers were officially working in Thailand.

Baykham Kattiya, Lao Minister of Labor, told Radio Free Asia earlier this month that there are 415,956 migrant workers in other nations, the majority of whom work in Thailand.

According to her, the Lao government believes that over 203,000 persons working outside of the nation lack proper work documents.

However, a Lao official familiar with the labor industry informed Radio Free Asia, a BenarNews-affiliated news station, on June 20 that the number of illegal Lao migrant workers in Thailand and abroad is likely significantly greater.

“They go to other countries as illegal migrant workers through different types of methods – as tourists or students,” said the politician. “Thus, it is hard for the immigration police to collect data on these people.”

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

News

High School Student Dies After Being Electrocuted By School Water Dispenser

14-year-old boy was electrocuted by a water dispenser: File Image

Thailand’s Office of Basic Education Commission has initiated an investigation into the electrocution of a 14-year-old student by a water dispenser in a high school. The event happened at noon on Friday, during the high school’s sports day. The victim was a Grade 8 student.

According to local media in Trang Province, the incident occurred when a teacher instructed the pupil to turn off a water dispenser amid a heavy rain.

According to a witness, the child collapsed while strolling with his friend near a water station. The friend claimed he attempted to assist but was also shocked by electricity.

According to reports, the friend then recovered, left the site, and requested assistance from teachers. A teacher ran to the scene and used a towel to pull the boy away by the ankle. He was taken to the hospital, but it was too late, they claimed.

The event sparked criticism from parents and netizens over school safety, as well as the slow response to aid the young youngster.

Mr. Chainarong Changrua, head of Trang-Krabi’s Secondary Educational Service Area Office, told local media on Sunday that forensic officers from Trang Provincial Police had visited the area. They discovered the blown breaker switch behind the water dispenser, he explained.

The breaker was burned out, thus the authorities assumed the disaster was caused by a short circuit that allowed energy to spill to a neighboring power pole. The student also appeared wet and was not wearing shoes when electrocuted.

According to the Office of Basic Education Commission, a probe team will complete its investigation this week.

The student’s father, Mr Pornchai Thepsuwan, 53, claimed he was saddened when he saw his son’s body. The boy (Wayu), was the youngest of two boys, he explained. He stated that following the tragedy, the school director and staff gave financial assistance to the families.

Mr Pornchai also said he would not seek charges against the institution because he believed it was an accident.

Electrical accidents in Thailand

Electrocution instances in Thailand have increased alarmingly in recent years. Many mishaps occur as a result of improper wiring and inadequate maintenance of electrical systems.

Public locations, such as schools and markets, frequently lack adequate safety precautions, putting individuals in danger. In rural areas, antiquated infrastructure exacerbates the situation, resulting in more frequent and serious events.

Although several high-profile cases have brought these challenges to light, genuine progress has been gradual. Furthermore, the rainy season heightens the likelihood of electrical accidents, as water and exposed wires do not mix well.

The government has made steps to strengthen safety standards, but enforcement is patchy. More education on electrical safety could help to reduce these accidents.

Unfortunately, better infrastructure and tougher rules may have prevented many of these incidents. The loss and injuries caused by electrocution are avoidable, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

News

Thailand’s Tourist Police Crackdown on Tourist Scammers in Pattaya

Tourist Police Pattaya: File Image

Thailand’s Tourist Police said it is collaborating with embassies from five countries to combat tourist scams and ten criminal gangs in Pattaya. The Tourist Police Bureau, convened a meeting on Thursday Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am told a press briefing.

Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am, the Tourist Police bureau commissioner said the participants included ambassadors from South Korea, Ukraine, Russia, India, and Switzerland.

He told the briefing the he had ordered a crackdown on tourist frauds, such as fraudulent or low-quality tour operators and unfair sales of goods and services. Stepped-up operations began on June 19 and will continue until June 25.

He stated that the agency was working with numerous organisations to increase tourists’ confidence in visiting Pattaya.

Gen Saksira spent time on the famed Walking Street speaking with officers on duty and assigned them to seek for members of ten criminal groups known to operate in Pattaya.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will visit Chon Buri on Saturday to assess the tourism situation. He intends to visit the site of a future Formula One racecourse near Khao Phra Tamnak in Bang Lamung District.

Prime Minister Srettha recently met with Formula One organisers in Italy to examine the potential of including Thailand on the race schedule in the future.

On Sunday, the Prime Minister will pay a visit to Rayong’s U-tapao airport to discuss development on the airport’s land, with the goal of encouraging investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor.

Police Chief Reinstated

In other police news, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has been reinstated as national police chief following the conclusion of an investigation into a highly publicised quarrel, according to Wissanu Krea-ngam, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s counsellor.

Mr Wissanu released the investigation’s findings on Thursday, after the prime minister formed a fact-finding committee chaired by Chatchai Promlert to investigate into the quarrel between Pol Gen Torsak and his deputy, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.

The four-month study revealed conflicts and disorder at all levels of the Royal Thai Police, but it was unclear whether these issues arose from a single cause or several causes, according to Mr Wissanu.

The findings revealed that both Pol Gen Torsak and Pol Gen Surachate were involved, with each team contributing to the tensions, he noted.

Mr Wissanu indicated that Pol Gen Surachate was reinstated as deputy national police head on 18 April following his relocation to the Prime Minister’s Office on 20 March. A disciplinary committee was formed to investigate Pol Gen Surachate, and he was ordered temporarily suspended from the police force.

Because there were no further difficulties to explore, it was decided to restore Pol Gen Torsak. He plans to retire on September 30.

On March 20, Mr Srettha abruptly transferred both top police officers to the Prime Minister’s Office in an effort to address the growing schism within the police service.

Kitrat Panphet, Deputy National Police Chief, was subsequently named Acting Police Chief. According to sources, Pol Gen Surachate could face money laundering charges related to online gaming networks.

Source: Bangkok Post