Thailand Politics

Thailand’s Junta Backtracking on it’s Promise of a Return to Democracy

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha

BANGKOK – It is becoming less clear when Thailand’s military ruler Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha head of the National Council for Peace and Order will step aside, as some supporters call for the junta to stay in power for two more years.

Some figures in the Yellow Shirt camp, which is at odds with supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, are plotting to delay the as yet unscheduled general election.

They aim to get the junta to keep governing for a long as possible to shore up their grip on power behind the scenes.

Proponents of continued military rule say reform should come before any election. Little is said about what sorts of reform are needed, though. These conservatives seek to prevent pro-Thaksin forces from regaining power.

An anti-Thaksin political activist, Buddhist monk Luang Pu Buddha Isara, was on June 9 surrounded by reporters in the lobby of the Parliament House in Bangkok. He was at the building to hand a letter calling for an extension of the military rule, backed by 50,000 signatures, to Paiboon Nititawan of the National Reform Council.

Buddha Isara said that if needed, he could collect 5 million signatures asking for the military junta to stay in power to realize reform before a general election.

But it was Paiboon, a former senator, who triggered the political campaign for allowing the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led last year’s coup, to continue governing.

At a June 4 government meeting, Paiboon requested Prayuth to stay on as leader for about two more years. “If everyone wants to me to stay on, I will do so to work for them and the country, but they must protect me against accusations, both at home and abroad,” local media quoted him as saying.

Prayuth’s remarks caused a stir. They were seen as a sign that the military is seeking to maintain its grip on power by postponing the general election. A vote was expected to be held in 2016 following the establishment of a new constitution.

The general’s response to Paiboon’s call enraged the pro-Thaksin camp.

The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, the pro-Thaksin group whose supporters are known as Red Shirts, lambasted Prayuth’s comment. Thai people will not be pleased if the prime minister breaks his promise, the group said.

Chaturon Chaisaeng, who was education minister in the ousted government of Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s younger sister, warned that delaying a return to democracy would stir both domestic and international discontent.

Thailand’s politics have been mired in turmoil for nearly 10 years amid bitter conflict between pro- and anti-Thaksin camps. The current military government was initially supposed to promote reconciliation between the two sides as a neutral mediator and bring the nation back to democracy swiftly.

Proponents of an extension of the military rule say the new government to be elected in the poll could avoid making serious reform efforts. The military government should be allowed to complete reforms, they argue.

They desire to reinstall the interim government of Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun. Anand’s government came to power after a year of military rule brought about by a bloodless military coup in 1991.

Anand carried out a series of reforms in his tenure, which lasted less than a year. He introduced a value-added tax and revamped state-run companies, for example. The reforms proved popular and earned Anand, who is viewed as corruption-free, broad public confidence.

Some Thais hope Prayuth can duplicate Anand’s success. Unlike Prayuth, who led the military coup, however, Anand was a diplomat before he became leader.

It is questionable whether time is what the current military government needs. It has no significant achievements to show in its efforts toward national reconciliation and economic recovery during the year or so since the coup. In such circumstances, it is difficult to see how the junta will solve the challenges facing the nation even if it stays in power for two more years.

What is certain is that the military junta will face harsher international criticism if it prolongs its rule.

After his remarks provoked an outcry from media and scholars, Prayuth backpedaled, saying his tenure will end around September next year at the latest.

Some ordinary Thais are also supporting the idea of a prolonged military rule because of public security concerns. Widespread discontent about existing political parties is giving the conservatives a pretext for promoting a revival of rule by the elite.

By Hiroshi Kotani

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.