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Thailand’s Pita Limjaroenrat Faces Investigation for Potential Election Rule Violation

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(CTN News) – Thailand’s Election Commission has investigated Pita Limjaroenrat, the front-runner in the May general election, amid allegations of violating election rules that could disqualify him from becoming the country’s next prime minister.

The investigation centers on Mr. Pita’s ownership of shares in iTV, a company that transitioned from being a news broadcaster to focusing on advertising. According to Thai law, parliamentary candidates are prohibited from owning media shares.

Move Forward Party’s Progressive Agenda Challenged

The Election Commission has stated that it requires 60 days to certify the election results. Following certification, the House of Representatives and the military-appointed Senate are expected to jointly vote for the prime minister in August.

However, a month after the election, the fate of Mr. Pita as an elected leader remains uncertain, raising concerns about democratic principles. Activists view the case against Mr. Pita and his Move Forward Party as part of a broader effort to undermine the election results and erode democracy in Thailand.

The May election witnessed a record turnout and was perceived as a strong expression of opposition to military rule. It also demonstrated widespread support for the Move Forward Party, which stands out as one of Southeast Asia’s few major political parties with a progressive platform.

The party seeks to reform long-standing power structures, reduce the military’s budget, end conscription, and challenge a law criminalizing criticism of the Thai monarchy. Additionally, Move Forward has advocated for the abolition of monopolies, threatening the interests of Thailand’s affluent aristocracy.

On June 20, a Senate committee will review the Election Commission’s order to investigate Mr. Pita. If at least 50 members of Parliament or 25 senators sign a petition against his bid for prime minister, the iTV case may be brought before the Constitutional Court.

Even before this investigation, Mr. Pita faced opposition from a Senate unlikely to support his candidacy. With the investigation underway, it is anticipated that more senators may refuse to back him.

If Pita Limjaroenrat fails to secure the prime minister position, Pheu Thai, the second-largest party in his coalition, may propose an alternative candidate.

Many speculate that Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the youngest daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister currently in exile, could be a potential contender.

There is also a possibility of Pheu Thai breaking away from Move Forward to form a new coalition aligned with conservative parties, although Pheu Thai has denied such plans.

The case against Mr. Pita resembles one involving his predecessor, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, in 2019. Thanathorn, the leader of the disbanded Future Forward Party (the predecessor to Move Forward), was disqualified by the Constitutional Court due to his shares in a media company.

Mr. Thanathorn argued unsuccessfully that he had sold the shares to his mother before running for Parliament.

Last week, the Election Commission dismissed several complaints aimed at disqualifying Mr. Pita as a candidate. However, the commission initiated its criminal probe to determine if Mr. Pita knowingly ran for Parliament while ineligible due to his ownership of iTV shares.

If found guilty, Pita could face severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison and a 20-year voting ban.

Nevertheless, during a press conference on Tuesday, Mr. Pita expressed confidence in his legal standing, stating that the investigation would not hinder his path to becoming Thailand’s 30th prime minister.

In response to the investigation, politicians from the Move Forward Party have accused the conservative establishment and the military-appointed Senate of orchestrating a deliberate attempt to prevent them from forming a new government and reclaiming power. They view the case as a blatant act of political interference.

Adding to the controversy, a leaked audio recording from an iTV shareholders’ meeting held on April 26 has caused turmoil in Thailand. In the recording, the company’s president informs a shareholder that iTV is no longer involved in the media business.

However, these statements contradict the minutes of the same meeting, which refer to iTV as a media entity. The minutes have been submitted as evidence in the complaint against Mr. Pita.

Mr. Pita addressed the issue on Facebook, stating that the shareholder’s question was raised just a few days before he applied to run for prime minister, insinuating that the inquiry was politically motivated.

The situation surrounding Pita Limjaroenrat’s candidacy and the investigation into his shares of iTV raises significant concerns about the state of democracy in Thailand.

Activists fear that the case and the broader efforts to undermine the election results may lead to the erosion of democratic principles and an attempt to suppress progressive agendas advocated by the Move Forward Party.

As the Senate committee reviews the Election Commission’s order, the future of Pita Limjaroenrat’s bid for prime minister remains uncertain.

The outcome of this investigation will have profound implications for Thailand’s political landscape and the aspirations of the Move Forward Party to bring about substantial change and reform to the country.

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Millennials in Canada Have Turned their Backs on Justin Trudeau

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Millennials are increasingly distancing themselves from Trudeau
Millennials are increasingly distancing themselves from Trudeau - CBC Image

Justine Trudeau and his Liberal Party are currently engaged in a fierce battle for second place against Jagmeet Singh’s socialist NDP, as both parties find themselves trailing by 20 points behind Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives.

A recent poll indicates that 38% of Canadians consider Trudeau to be the most ineffective leader the nation has encountered in over fifty years. An impressive 47% of Canadian Millennials indicated they would support Poilievre if an election were to take place today, while nearly half of all Canadians express a desire for an election to be called this year.

Pierre Poilievre’s strong appeal among young voters can be attributed primarily to economic factors: soaring inflation, a pressing cost-of-living crisis, and the challenge of housing affordability are pushing many away from the Liberals, who have held power for nearly nine years.

According to UnHeard, Millennials are increasingly distancing themselves from Trudeau due to his stringent measures aimed at controlling the internet to combat alleged disinformation, as well as his climate change initiatives, notably the carbon tax.

protest in downtown Toronto against mass immigration took place on Canada Day

Protest in downtown Toronto against mass immigration on Canada Day – TNC Image

An increasing number of Canadians are becoming aware of Trudeau’s ineffective policies and his approach to mass immigration. This past summer, there was significant outrage among parents of teenagers and young adults as they observed their children remaining at home without jobs.

The primary concern stemmed from the fact that most low-skilled and entry-level positions were being filled by unskilled, temporary foreign workers, predominantly from India.

There has been a notable rise in criminal activities linked to international students and unvetted temporary residents who are becoming involved with Punjabi gangs in Canada, contributing to a surge in auto thefts nationwide.

Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives are actively seeking to alter Trudeau’s approach to mass immigration and prioritize the construction of more housing should they come into power.

Significantly, Pierre Poilievre is perceived as more trustworthy than Trudeau, with over half of Canadians characterizing Poilievre as “open and honest about his actions, decisions, and intentions,” while only 39% share that sentiment regarding Trudeau.

The characteristics in question may shed light on Poilievre’s favorable polling, particularly among younger voters and women, who have historically leaned towards the Liberals or the NDP rather than the Conservatives.

The Liberal Party’s support has dwindled to an estimated 7% of Canadians, revealing a significant number of disillusioned voters eager for transformation. Poilievre is emerging as the type of leader that resonates with the desires of many Canadians.

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U.N. Special Rapporteur Calls on Thailand’s Banks to Cut-Off Myanmar Junta

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UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews speaks during a press conference after a meeting with Thailand's Parliamentary Committee

The U.N special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar has said the Bank of Thailand, commercial banks, and the anti-money laundering office are working on measures to stop the Myanmar Junta from acquiring weapons through Thailand’s banking system.

Tom Andrews the U.N. special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar, said that some banks commercial in Thailand had aided Myanmar Junta’s by facilitating transactions that supplied military equipment to the Junta through the international banking system.

He called on the Bank of Thailand and financial institutions to do more to stop Myanmar’s junta acquiring weapons which they use on civilians to maintain power.

The special rapporteur was in Bangkok to address a parliamentary committee on security, he called on the Thai government to stop financial transactions that help supply weapons to Myanmar’s junta in line with a plan promoted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that sets out an end to violence as a first step toward peace.

In his 2023 report “The Billion Dollar Death Trade,” Andrews noted that Singapore had implemented a clear policy opposing the transfer of weapons to Myanmar.

Thailand's Banks

Thai Baht – File Image

Thailand’s Banks Lacked Clear Policy

As a result, exports of weapons and related materials from Singapore-registered entities using the formal banking system dropped from almost U.S. $120 million in fiscal year 2022 to just over $10 million over the next 12 months.

However, he said Thailand had no explicit policy position opposing weapons transfer to the Myanmar Junta, which saw exports from Thai-registered entities more than double in 2023, from just over $60 million to nearly $130 million.

He called on Thai Government to conduct a thorough investigation into transfers as Singapore had done into its companies’ dealings.

Andrews told the the committee that five Thai commercial banks and Thai-based companies were assisting Myanmar’s junta obtain weapons, dual-technology items and jet fuel, enabling Military Junta to conduct atrocities against the people.

But said he had found no evidence that the Thai government was involved or was aware of the transactions or that Thai commercial banks had knowledge.

Thailand's Banks

Photo courtesy of The Nation

Banks Condemn Myanmar Junta Violence

Meanwhile representatives from Thailand’s central bank, anti-money laundering office and the commercial banks named in the report were also present at the parliamentary meeting at government house in Bangkok.

A representative of the Bank of Thailand said officials were working with the commercial banks and the anti-money laundering office to make sure that enhanced oversight was properly practiced.

The Thai Bankers Association that was also at the parliamentary meeting said it did not have the means to investigate and monitor such irregularities beyond Thailand’s borders.

Mr. Pongsit Chaichatpornsuk, a Thai Bankers Association representative told the committee that If government security agencies tell us, we will stop transactions. We don’t support arms procurement by Myanmar Junta or any military government to violate human rights.

Thailand, which shares a long border with Myanmar and hosts many thousands of refugees fleeing conflict there, has tried to promote dialogue between Myanmar’s military rulers and opposition forces but no progress has been made.

This Article was first published in RFA

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People Rushing Sign Online Petition to Impeach South Korea’s President Crash Site

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South Korea's President

The Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea said in a statement that an online petition calling for South Korea’s President Mr. Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment crashed due to the enormous number of individuals attempting to sign the petition. Saying the National Assembly would resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

Since the petition was launch on the National Assembly’s website on June 20, more than 811,000 people have signed it. The petition urges Parliament to introduce legislation to impeach President Yoon on the grounds that he is unfit for office.

Late on June 30, National Assembly Speaker Mr. Woo Won-shik issued an apology for the disturbance and stated that Parliament would take action to protect the public’s fundamental rights.

People attempting to access the petition on July 1 experienced delays of up to four hours. At one point, an error message indicated that more than 30,000 individuals were waiting to access the site.

South Korea’s Parliament Hesitant

The online petition accuses Yoon of corruption, escalating the risk of conflict with North Korea, and endangering South Koreans’ health by failing to prevent Japan from leaking treated radioactive water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant.

By law, Parliament must assign every petition signed by more than 50,000 people to a committee, which will then decide whether to put it to a vote in the assembly.

However, the opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in Parliament, is hesitant to turn the petition into an impeachment bill, according to media reports, with a spokesperson stating that the party has yet to address the topic.

The Parliament can impeach a president with a two-thirds majority. The Constitutional Court then deliberates the motion and decides whether to remove or reinstall the president.

Meanwhile, on Monday Reuters reported North Korea criticized a joint military exercise performed this month by South Korea, Japan, and the United States, according to official media, saying such drills demonstrate the three nations’ alliance has evolved into “the Asian version of NATO”.

On Thursday, the three countries began large-scale combined military drills named “Freedom Edge” featuring navy destroyers, fighter fighters, and the nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, with the goal of strengthening defenses against missiles, submarines, and air strikes.

The drill was designed at a three-way meeting at Camp David last year to boost military cooperation amid concerns on the Korean peninsula caused by North Korea’s weapons testing.

Pyongyang will not overlook the strengthening of a military bloc led by the United States and its allies, and it would respond aggressively and decisively to defend regional peace, according to North Korea’s foreign ministry, as reported by KCNA.

 

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