Thailand Politics

Election Commission Under Fire By Politicians on Calculations for MP Seats

BANGKOK – One of the Pheu Thai Party’s prime ministerial candidates, has warned election commissioners not to calculate the number of party-list MPs in a way that benefits any particular group, which would be a violation of the Constitution.

Sudarat Keyuraphan said yesterday on Facebook the Election Commission “must not risk violating the law, |particularly the Constitution, to help a group of people stay on in power”.

In response, the EC rejected Sudarat’s allegation, saying it had no intention of serving the interests of any particular group of people. Through its News Operation Centre, the agency also noted that her claim could cause misunderstanding and lack of confidence in the EC.

In a separate development yesterday, a senior Democrat Party figure has disputed a claim that many of its elected members want to join a coalition government headed by the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat Party.

Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai said the party had made no determination on the matter.

The former premier was in effect disputing a claim made by fellow Democrat Thaworn Senneam that many in the party were ready to support a Phalang Pracharat-led coalition.

“We have to wait for the new executive board to make a resolution,” Chuan said. “This talk about joining a Phalang Pracharat coalition was just the personal view of Thaworn and his group. It’s not a party resolution.”

Thaworn, a successful candidate for the party, said on Facebook yesterday that most other Democrats elected in constituencies were agreed about joining a Phalang Pracharat-led coalition.

They simply want their own party’s policies put into effect by the next government, he said.

“If we’re in the opposition we’ll be unable to take care of the people fully,” Thaworn wrote. “And if there is any political upset that forces another election, we’ll have no selling point for our campaign.”

Thaworn had on Friday said about 30 elected Democrats met at party headquarters to possible coalition partnerships. He said his group’s call to be part of the next government was meant to ensure “the survival of the country”.

He said supporting Phalang Pracharat would not be contrary to the party’s ideology as some have alleged.

In the Future Forward camp, leader Thanathorn Juangroong-ruangkit said yesterday no one in the party was fearful or concerned about legal actions brought against him and other key party figures.

He said the legal charges were meant to damage the party, but all of the accused members were confident they would be proven innocent. “We believe in our innocence,” he said. “Nobody will be able to find us guilty. The party’s supporters can be assured about this.”

The billionaire politician stands accused of sedition and being involved in an illegal political gathering in 2015 while martial law was in force. He will be tried in military court.

Future Forward secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul |is charged with contempt of court and violating the Computer Crimes Act.

Referring to the legal action, Amnesty International Thailand campaigner Katherine Gerson yesterday called on the authorities to respect rights and avoid using criminal charges to “gag political enemies”. She also asked for an end to the practice of trying civilians in military court.

Meanwhile most people surveyed for a Suan Dusit Poll last week said they were “concerned” about official results of the March 24 election remaining unavailable. More than 40 per cent of respondents said they were “worried” that Thai politics was left in uncertainty. Almost 24 per cent said they were concerned that political foes were being drawn into a “severe dispute”.

Suan Dusit University surveyed 1,257 people in all regions of the country between April 2 and 6. Asked what should be done in the current situation, 51.3 per cent of respondents said all sides should work together, while almost 30 per cent called for the law to be respected.

By 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.