Thailand Politics

Thai Junta Hunts Pro-Election Activists Protest Backers

Gen Chalermchai: People want an election but understand why there are delays.- Photo Phuket News

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BANGKOK – Thailand’s ruling Junta has pledged to go after those who are financially supporting pro-election activists, who are ramping up pressure on the regime to hold a poll to return the country to democracy this year.

“Security officers are keeping an eye on those who might be involved with the activities,” National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Wallop Raksanoh said Monday, referring to efforts to hunt down those who are the backers of the group.

The activists’ would not pose such a major problem if people were not egging them on, he said.

In efforts to mobilise pro-election campaigns, activists said in a briefing on Saturday that big events are planned for March 10 and 14. In May, the group aims to gather every Saturday and will hold a non-stop rally from May 19-22.

Gen Wanlop Raksanoh as secretary-general of the National Security Council.

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Civil rights activists under the name of the “People Go Network” also pledged to expand their civil rights campaign, including taking to the streets of Bangkok. The group said after completing a monthlong walk from Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus in Pathum Thani to Khon Kaen on Friday that they wanted the election to be held as quickly as possible.

Gen Wallop said that authorities are keeping an eye on the situation and no violence has taken place so far.

Asked whether the number of the demonstrators is increasing, Gen Wallop said people tend to pay little attention to the group. As long as authorities are vigilant in keeping an eye on the groups, little trouble was likely to erupt, he predicted.

Gen Wallop said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had emphasized that officials must ensure no third party would exploit the group’s activities by causing violence.

Army chief Gen Chalermchai Sitthisad also echoed Gen Wallop’s remarks, saying officials are searching for the people thought to be supporting the group.

He said leading figures of political parties have denied involvement with the group.

A Pro-democracy activist holds a fan during protest against junta near Democracy Monument in Bangkok. -Photo Soe Zeya Tun

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The pro-democracy group on Saturday asked politicians to join the anti-government movement, but they declined, saying this might send the wrong message that they are political tools.

Gen Chalermchai insisted authorities will not employ hard-line measures against the campaigners and they will use only existing laws to deal with them.

“I am confident the situation will remain under control,” said Gen Chalermchai, adding the past political crisis should serve as a lesson to people and no one wants such a political quagmire to happen again.

Responding to the activists’ call for the military to stand by the people, the army chief asked: “Do you think the people think in the same way these groups do? I think most Thais want to see an election but they understand the reason and necessity of the required legal process.”

Gen Prayut had previously announced that an election would be scheduled tentatively for November, but the National Legislative Assembly voted last month to delay the enforcement of an organic law needed for the poll by 90 days, which effectively puts off the poll until February 2019 at the earliest.

Gen Chalermchai said most people understand the steps leading to the poll and they have agreed to allow some time for the process, which would be better than coming out for confrontations. “Most people want peace,” the army chief said.

“The government has never announced there will be no election. Everything is proceeding in line with legal steps. If people are mobilized to confront each other, this would complicate the problem. State authorities will enforce the laws in a proper way,” said Gen Chalermchai.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha (R) and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan before a weekly cabinet meeting at Government House in Bangkok- Photo Athit Perawongmetha

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According to the army commander, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has instructed officers to provide security for the activists and enforce laws in an appropriate way for those who breach them.

Reports have been swirling that politicians are travelling to meet former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra overseas. Thaksin and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra were seen in a photo online on Feb 10 amid suggestions they were in Beijing. The photo emerged the same day as an anti-coup protest was staged at the Democracy Monument.

After Beijing, there were reports saying that Thaksin and Yingluck had travelled to Japan and Hong Kong. They are now said to be staying in Singapore.

Responding to the news, Gen Chalermchai said appealed to the media not to draw links between the Shinawatras and everything else happening in politics. “We cannot send people to arrest them,” Gen Chalermchai said.” We have to depend on international cooperation in that matter.” Asked whether he would meet the two former premiers in Singapore, where he is scheduled to visit, the army commander stressed: “I go there for work. I do not establish links.”

Gen Chalermchai also denied reports that Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) officials were deployed to conduct opinion polls to find out whether people want the election to be held quickly. He said officials only heed people’s views.

He said it is common for people to feel weary of those in power for a long time. “They [the people] want something better, but do not know what it should be. Wanting change is normal,” said the army chief.

Also Monday, former Democrat MP Watchara Phetthong said he was confident that Suthep Thaugsuban, head of the defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), would set up a party to back Gen Prayut to serve as the prime minister after the poll. The PDRC protested against the Yingluck administration from November 2013 to May 2014.

Not many Democrat members were likely to leave the party for the one to be formed by Mr Suthep as they will not abandon the Democrat spirit and opt for a military-supporting party, Mr Watchara said.

By WassanaNanuam and Aekarach Sattaburuth
The Bangkok Post

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.