Thailand Politics

Activist Launch Campaign to Impeach 5 Anti-Corruption Commission Panel Members

BANGKOK -Anti-Corruption activist have launched a campaign to seek the impeachment of five members of the national anti-graft agency who voted to clear Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan of any wrongdoing in the luxury wristwatch scandal.

Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution, yesterday urged the president of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, to “consider what he should do” to take responsibility for what he described as the agency’s “loss of public confidence”.

Watcharapol had withdrawn from the case following criticism that he could be biased in favour of General Prawit since he was a former subordinate of the general.

If the accusation is found to have ground, the case would be referred to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions.

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The others on the nine-member NACC last Thursday voted 5-3 to drop charges against Prawit, who was investigated for allegedly possessing a large number of luxury watches without reporting them to the anti-graft agency, as required by law. The ruling drew flak from both critics and politicians.

The NACC said it found that the watches – together valued at more than Bt20 million – belonged to a deceased friend of Prawit, as the deputy PM-defence minister had initially claimed, and that he had concealed assets.

At his teashop at Ying Charoen Market in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district yesterday, Srisuwan launched his signature campaign to impeach the five NACC members.

He aims to collect at least 20,000 signatures to start the impeachment process, as allowed by the Constitution. Srisuwan said he expected to reach the number within two weeks.

The charter gives citizens who muster the support of at least 20,000 eligible voters the right to petition the National Assembly president to take action against any NACC member who “deliberately performs duties or exercises powers contrary to the provisions of the Constitution or the law, or seriously contravenes or fails to comply with the ethical standards”.

If the accusation is found to have ground, the case would be referred to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions.

Srisuwan said his petition would focus on the five commissioners who voted to absolve Prawit. The NACC president should strive to restore the credibility the agency lost due to its decision, he said. He considered it Watcharapol’s responsibility, even though the NACC chief had recused himself from the case.

“The EC needs to take all relevant factors into consideration, including the printing of ballot papers,” Jarungvith said.

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Meanwhile, Election Commission (EC) secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma yesterday refused to confirm or deny speculation that the next general election could be postponed from the scheduled February 24. Jarungvith said the EC would announce the official election date within five days of a royal decree on the election being issued next month.

The election must bea held between February 24 and May 9, within the 150-day legal timeframe under the new Constitution, after the new organic law on the election of MPs came into effect on December 11.

“The EC needs to take all relevant factors into consideration, including the printing of ballot papers,” Jarungvith said. “There is no delay in the election. The EC has not yet set the date for the national vote. February 24 is just one of the days that the EC is ready to hold the election,” he added.

Earlier, there was speculation that the general election could be postponed for a month because of the demands of printing ballot papers that need to have different details like candidate names and numbers, their political parties and logos, for each of the constituencies.

EC president Ittiporn Boonpracong said yesterday he was unaware of any discussion on postponing the election.

Source: The Nation

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.