Regional News

Thai Army Detains Yingluck Shinawatra at Military Camp

Former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra meets her supporters on 7 May in Bangkok after being forced to step down

BANGKOK – Thailand‘s military has detained former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra in a military camp roughly two hours from Bangkok, after she and more than 150 other prominent politicians and activists were apprehended and banned from leaving the country.

The detainment’s come a day after Thailand’s army chief seized power in a coup declared necessary to “restore order and normality”.

General Prayuth Chan-ocha, above, Thailand’s acting premier after the coup, ordered political leaders to report to him at Thai army headquarters in Bangkok.

Local media reported that Yingluck had been taken to an army camp in Saraburi province, central Thailand, where she is expected to be held for the next three days, according to Naew Na news.

“We have detained Yingluck, her sister and brother-in-law,” a senior military officer told Reuters. The two relatives have also held senior political posts. “We will do so for not more than week, that would be too long. We just need to organise matters in the country first,” said the officer.

General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Thailand’s acting premier, ordered 155 political leaders, including the Shinawatra clan and both pro- and anti-government protesters – to report to him at Thai army headquarters in Bangkok. Among them were the recently deposed premier Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, as well as former labour minister Chalerm Yubamrung.

Some have since been released but the whereabouts of many remains unknown.

Yingluck had arrived at Bangkok base on Friday morning in a bulletproof vehicle surrounded by bodyguards, local media reported, but left after 30 minutes for another army facility, according to the Associated Press.

It is believed that pro-government redshirt leaders who support the deposed Pheu Thai government may have been moved to different bases around the country to minimize the potential for any resistance to Thursday’s military coup.

Friday’s detention of such a large number of politicians and leaders is significant, not least because it involves the Shinawatra clan – a highly polarising family in Thailand. The 64-year-old leader of the group, Thaksin – a telecoms tycoon and former prime minister who was deposed in a 2006 military coup – was hugely popular among rural voters and lauded for his populist policies while in office. But he was equally derided by Bangkok’s urban, pro-royalist elites, who accused him of cronyism and corruption.

Despite being deposed eight years ago, Thaksin is at the forefront of the political turmoil that has seen 28 people killed and 700 injured since November, when protests against the Yingluck-led Pheu Thai party were sparked by a proposed amnesty bill that would have ushered in Thaksin’s return to Thailand.

The government has since been in a political deadlock, with anti-Thaksin forces fighting for the installation of a non-appointed leader, who would oversee vague reforms, and Pro-Thaksin forces calling for elections. Pro-Thaksin parties have won every election since 2001.

Now the army is at the helm and has promised to not only restore order, but to institute the reforms – but just how, and under what circumstances, has not yet been made clear.

Thaksin’s lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, issued a statement Friday warning that the army’s “illegal seizure of power” could result in a dramatic power divide.

“The military coup carried out by the army of Thailand does not have any legitimacy nor does the army of Thailand have a mandate from the people of Thailand to govern the country,” Amsterdam said. “Those who have the mandate of the people of Thailand, secured through free and fair elections, are now considering the formation of a government in exile.”

On Friday evening, hundreds of protesters held a candlelit vigil in downtown Bangkok with banners reading “No coup!”, “Let people vote” and “Military junta – get out!”. A large group of soldiers initially attempted to disperse the crowd, before allowing them to hold the sit-in near the central MBK mall, local media reported. Minor scuffles were reported and some protesters were taken away for questioning, according to reports on Twitter.

Earlier, unverified reports circulated that the military was attempting to detain redshirts in the north and north-east of the country. According to online news portal Khaosod, the army has also closed off a Thailand-Laos border crossing in an attempt to prevent them fleeing the country.

Like Thaksin, army chief Prayuth is no stranger to coups: he was part of the junta that helped depose Thaksin, a takeover that helped cement a massive pro-Thaksin support base known as the United Front for Democracy, and eventually led to massive street battles between royalist yellowshirts and pro-Thaksin supporters in 2010, resulting in the deaths of nearly 100 people.

Prayuth claimed that the takeover would help restore peace to the nation, but the Bangkok Post said in an editorial on Friday: “It’s the very act of a military takeover that is likely to … provoke acts of violence and possibly cause more loss of life. This coup is not the solution.”

Thursday’s coup – the country’s 19th since an absolute monarchy was abolished in 1932 – has been condemned by a number of human rights group and nations, including France, Japan, Australia, Germany, the EU, UN and US. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, said there was no justification for the coup and called for the release of all detained politicians.

Most analysts have said the situation in Thailand is unlikely to improve soon.

“The ‘hardliner’ generals now run the show and we should expect [a] bad outcome,” said a report by the Siam Intelligence Unit thinktank. “The new junta government will run the country for one to two years. The worst possible scenario is a chronic civil war.”

By 6pm on Friday, some television channels had returned to normal broadcasting, after 24 hours of military programming. All television and radio stations in Thailand, including foreign ones such as the BBC and CNN, had been off-air, resulting, in some circumstances, in repeat scenes of Prayuth declaring the military coup played over and over. In a comedic act of defiance, some Thais took to the Facebook page of the government’s new ruling body — the National Peace and Order Maintenance Council (NPOMC) – to request new singles be played over the airwaves, complaining that the nationalist bandstand songs with titles such as The Motherland’s Cancer, had begun to grate. They also requested their favourite television shows be aired again, news website Prachatai reported.

“Please put the soap operas back on!” said one Facebook user. “I’m so bored. 7-Eleven has been closed because of the curfew. Nothing to eat.”

The junta issued an order banning all media from reporting information deemed a threat to national security; a criticism of the NPOMC; or news that could incite confusion, conflict or unrest, according to Prachatai. – Kate Hodal

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