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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020756

Remembering the gruesome October 6 event

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2022

THE NATION

Today, Thursday, marks the 46th anniversary of the killing of students by police and ultranationalist forces in a political clash on October 6, 1976, also known as the October 6 event.

Thais nationwide remember the event as one of the worst massacres in political history.

The massacre followed a riot in which thousands of students and concerned citizens gathered at Thammasat University and nearby Sanam Luang square to protest the return of former military dictator Field Marshall Thanom Kittikachorn to Thailand from Singapore.

Before that, an uprising on October 14, 1973, overthrew Thanom’s unpopular regime, forcing him to flee Thailand to the neighboring country.

On September 7, 1976, a group of political activists held a rally at Thammasat University to discuss the possibility of Thanom’s return and its impact on peace and order.

On September 24, Wichai Ketsriphongsorn and Chumphon Thummai, two labour activists from Nakhon Pathom, who put up anti-Thanom posters, were attacked and beaten to death. Their bodies were gruesomely hung from a gate in the province’s Muang district, which later became known as the “Red Gate”.

On September 28, more than 10,000 people gathered at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok’s Pathum Wan district to protest against Thanom returning. The rallyists who comprised college students and the general public decided to move to Thammasat University in Phra Nakhon district on October 3, and later announced they would disperse on October 6 during the day.

However, at 5.30am on October 6, the police used war-grade weapons, including assault rifles, grenade launchers, anti-armour rounds and grenades, in a move to crack down on the protesters. The demonstrators frantically tried to defend themselves, but were quickly defeated.

Right-wing paramilitaries also lynched fleeing protesters, who were reportedly assaulted, robbed, sexually abused, shot, burned alive or beaten to death. Even some who had already surrendered were not spared.

Several sources claimed more than 100 died at the hands of the military, police and paramilitary forces, contradicting the government report which said 46 persons were killed. The report also said 167 protesters were injured and 3,094 arrested on that day.

Now, every year on October 6, relatives of the victims, representatives of political parties and various organisations make merit and lay wreaths and flowers at the Sculpture of 6 October 1976 Memorial near Thammasat University’s Tha Pra Chan campus.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020702

PM Prayut rejects talk of shortlisting Gen Chakthip as his successor

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2022

THE NATION

Rejecting rumours that he has chosen former national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda as a possible candidate for the PM’s job, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said he has not chosen a “political successor”.

“I have not thought about my political future yet. Right now, I want to focus on tackling the flood problems,” the PM, who also doubles as defence minister, said on Tuesday.

Prayut was in Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani provinces on Tuesday to inspect the flood situation. Accompanying him were Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda, Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin and Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn.

The Constitutional Court spared Prayut last week, ruling that his eight-year tenure did not expire on August 24 this year. Instead, the court said, his tenure should be counted from April 6, 2017, when the current Constitution was promulgated.

Political analysts, meanwhile, have speculated that Prayut may nominate Chakthip as the next PM candidate for the ruling Palang Pracharath Party. Chakthip has completed his mandatory two-year break since his last day as a senator – on September 30, 2020 – before he can be named as a prime ministerial candidate.

“I currently don’t know who the party will choose as its PM candidate. The subject is still being discussed,” Prayut said.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020701

Former party leader Newin ‘sets Bhumjaithai’s vision of 120 House seats’ in next election

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2022

THE NATION

The Bhumjaithai Party, a major ruling coalition partner, aims to win at least 120 House seats in the general election next year, the party’s leader said yesterday.

Bhumjaithai leader and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced his intention while he was visiting Newin Chidchob, president of the Buriram United FC and a former leader of the party, in Buri Ram province on Tuesday on the occasion of Newin’s 64th birthday.

Newin has washed his hands off politics to manage the football club, but he is believed to be the de facto leader of the Bhumjaithai.

Anutin led all Bhumjaithai MPs to pay their respects to Newin and wish him a happy birthday.

The public health minister denied skipping the weekly Cabinet meeting, explaining the meeting was postponed to Wednesday as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was making an inspection trip to Ubon Ratchathani on Tuesday to visit flood victims.

Anutin told reporters that Newin wanted his party to win at least 120 House seats.

The Election Commission has set May 7 as the tentative election date if the House completes its four-year term on March 23.

“So far whatever Newin has blessed us, it has come true,” Anutin said.

The public health minister said Bhumjaithai has been working hard for the public with tangibly implementable policies.

“Our works have created confidence in the public that if we form the next government, we will be able to do this or that for them,” Anutin said.

When asked by reporters whether MPs from other parties, who visited Newin on his birthday, would later join the Bhumjaithai ahead of the next election, Anutin replied that the MPs simply came to greet Newin.

“Newin was in politics for 30 to 40 years so a lot of politicians are close to him. They don’t have to be Bhumjaithai members,” Anutin said.

He said his party has not been coercing MPs from other parties to defect to Bhumjaithai.

“But we are looking for capable people to work for the country. If such capable people are with other parties, we may invite them to join us to work together. This is a normal thing in politics,” Anutin said.

The public health minister expressed confidence that the next election would be held on schedule, although the organic law on the election of MPs has not been enacted yet. The MPs election amendment bill is pending enactment with affirmation by the EC and Parliament after a vetted draft failed to clear its third reading earlier.

Anutin added that he had talked to Prayut recently and he believed the prime minister might wait for the right timing before dissolving the House ahead of March 23.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020669

Prayut avoids comment on possible Cabinet reshuffle amid rumours of infighting in ruling coalition

MONDAY, OCTOBER 03, 2022

THE NATION

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday declined to give any commitment on a Cabinet reshuffle amid reports that his coalition partners want to change the Cabinet lineup in preparation for the next general election.

Prayut returned to work at Government House on Monday after the Constitutional Court had temporarily suspended him from duties on August 24. On Friday, the court ruled that Prayut could serve another two and a half years before reaching the eight-year limit set by the Constitution.

Among other things, he was asked whether he would change the Cabinet lineup and whether the “three-Ps” — Prayut, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and Interior Minister General Anupong “Pok” Paochinda – would swap their Cabinet seats.

A reporter also asked him to confirm whether former National Police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda has been selected as his political heir.

Prayut smiled through all the questions but left Government House in his car without addressing them.

It has been reported that major coalition partners, especially the Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties, have started quarrelling for Cabinet seats as they are eyeing ministries that would boos their chances of winning the next election, tentatively scheduled for early May.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020662

Foreign news agencies see limited boost for Prayut from court ruling on his tenure as PM

MONDAY, OCTOBER 03, 2022

THE NATION

Many foreign news agencies said that the Constitutional Court’s verdict on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s tenure as head of government on Friday was not a surprise.

The court ruled on Friday that Prayut could continue as prime minister because he had not served the maximum eight-year term stipulated in the current charter.

US based news agency Associated Press (AP) said the court’s decision had been widely expected, since it has generally ruled in the government’s favour in a series of political cases.

“The judiciary, especially the Constitutional Court, and the military are strong defenders of the country’s conservative establishment, whose most important pillar they consider to be the monarchy,” it said.

AP also expected Prayut to face political challenges at the beginning of next year when Parliament’s four-year term ends, adding that Prayut’s popularity is low, with critics saying he has mishandled the economy and the Covid-19 crisis.

It also claimed that Thailand’s traditional conservative ruling class, including the military, felt that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s popularity posed a threat to the country’s monarchy as well as their own influence.

“The courts have been stalwart defenders of the established order and ruled consistently against Thaksin and other challengers,” it added.

Meanwhile, UK-based news agency Reuters said the Constitutional Court’s decision is considered a big boost for Prayut.

It added that Prayut is a staunch royalist whose premiership has been beset by attempts to unseat him, including four house censure motions, a conflict-of-interest case and protests challenging his leadership and the monarchy.

Analysts told US-based newspaper, The New York Times, it is unlikely that Palang Pracharath Party would keep Prayut on as a candidate for the next general election because he would not be allowed to serve the full four years of the term. The Constitutional Court counted Prayut’s term from the time the new Constitution was promulgated in 2017, based on which Prayut would be completing six years as PM at the end of the current house term in 2023.

They also claimed that Prayut had largely failed to come up with policies to boost Thailand’s economy, the second-largest in Southeast Asia.

“Even though Thai officials estimate the economy this year will grow from 2.7 per cent to 3.2 per cent, it is putting Thailand on course for the slowest expansion in Southeast Asia,” analysts said.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020657

Sibling ties: Varawut handed Chart Thai Pattana Party’s leadership by older sister

MONDAY, OCTOBER 03, 2022

THE NATION

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silapa-archa was handed the reins of Chart Thai Pattana Party by his older sister Kanchana Silapa-archa on Monday.

The party, a coalition partner with 12 MPs, met for the first time on Monday after Kanchana stepped down as party leader on September 20. The meeting was held at Bangkok’s Miracle Grand Convention Hotel.

During the assembly, Varawut was nominated to the post of party leader without a contender, winning all 382 votes.

The meeting also agreed to expand the number of board members from 29 to 39, but only named 22, including the following executives:

• Deputy leader Anurak Jureemat

• Deputy leader Anucha Sasomsup

• Deputy leader Wijit Pruettiphan

• Deputy leader Samphan Paenphat

• Deputy leader Yutthapol Angkinant

• Secretary-general Prapat Photisuthon

• Deputy secretary-general Thatlak Pittapongpat

• Deputy secretary-general Udomsak Srisutiwa

• Deputy secretary-general Nanthaporn Damrongpong

• Treasurer Puangrat Chaiyabutr

• Party registrar Phisit Pittayathakulcharoen

After the votes were counted, Kanchana ceremoniously handed the party’s flag over to her brother.

Chart Thai Pattana was founded on April 18, 2008, in anticipation of a Constitutional Court verdict that would dissolve its previous avatar Chart Thai Party on December 2 the same year. After the dissolution, Chart Thai MPs and key party members switched to Chart Thai Pattana.

Once he was handed the party’s leadership, Varawut said Chart Thai and Chart Thai Pattana have collectively been in Thai politics for 48 years. He said he is now 49 and has grown up with his late father, Banharn Silapa-archa, leading the party.

Varawut said nobody doubted his father’s abilities, who always stepped out to listen to people’s grievances and worked to solve their problems. He said his father looked after party members like they were real family, and he hopes he will be able to do the same.

He said that though he is succeeding his sister as party leader, he wants party members to know that the Silapa-archa family does not personally own the party.

Varawut said the party’s management will be based on reason and input from all sides and nobody can dictate or influence the party’s direction.

For instance, he said, the public will be encouraged to choose Chart Thai Pattana candidates for the next election, because the party wants its MPs and executives to respond to the demands of the people.

“In the past, dad often scolded me and taught me a lot of things. Now, I understand that he wanted to prepare me for this post,” Varawut said.

He said he could not work alone and hoped the party would be united to support him in his work.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020634

Most Thais support scrapping interest on student loans: survey

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 02, 2022

THE NATION

Most Thais support new legislation that would exempt students from having to pay interest on loans they obtain from the Students Loan Fund, according to a National Institute of Development Administration (Nida Poll) survey.

The survey was conducted among 1,312 respondents aged 18 or over between September 26 and 29.

The new student loans bill passed its third reading in the lower House on September 14 and has been forwarded to the Senate for deliberation.

Under the new bill, students will receive interest-free loans and not be fined for late payments. The bill also scraps the need to name guarantors to secure student loans.

If enacted, the new law will benefit about 3.4 million students who borrow from the fund.

Currently, the fund charges annual interest of 1 per cent, or up to 7.5 per cent for students who default on their debt.

Asked whether they agreed with scrapping interest on student loans, the survey respondents responded as follows:

– 55.18 per cent totally agreed

– 18.22 per cent moderately agreed

– 17.61 per cent totally disagreed

– 8.99 per cent moderately disagreed.

Asked what they thought of the decision to lift penalty interest rates:

– 42.76 per cent totally agreed

– 19.06 per cent moderately agreed

– 23.32 per cent totally disagreed

– 14.48 per cent moderately disagreed

– 0.38 per cent had no comment

Former students being sued for defaulting on loans have called on the fund to wipe out their debts.

Asked how they feel about the call to wipe out debts, respondents replied as follows:

– 16.62 per cent totally agreed

– 14.48 per cent moderately agreed

– 59.91 per cent totally disagreed

– 8.08 per cent moderately disagreed

– 0.91 per cent had no comment.

Asked whether they thought the student loan fund is useful for poor students:

– 84.53 per cent said very useful

– 13.72 per cent said moderately useful

– 0.69 per cent said not useful

– 0.76 per cent said not very useful

– 0.30 per cent had no comment.

Asked whether they had any connection to the student loan fund:

– 61.28 per cent said no connection

– 21.95 per cent said they had children who had taken loans from the fund

– 9.83 per cent said they were former students still paying off loans

– 4.88 per cent were former students who had paid back their loans in full

– 1.75 per cent had taken loans and were still studying

– 0.23 per cent were negotiating with the fund to restructure their debt

– 0.08 per cent were facing lawsuits for defaulting on student loans.

Last month, House Speaker Chuan Leekpai, who initiated the fund 20 years ago when he was the prime minister, said he disagreed with the bill and regarded it as a ploy to win votes by politicians.

Chuan said the fund needed interests to expand itself to be able to help more poor students.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020613

All five cases in which Constitutional Court spared Prayut

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2022

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has survived all the five cases filed against him at the charter court with the apparent goal of getting him removed from office.

The first case came in August 2019, just one month after Prayut and his Cabinet were sworn in before His Majesty the King.

Oath-taking case

Ramkhamhaeng University student Panupong Churak lodged his petition through the Office of the Ombudsman, arguing that the oath Prayut recited was incomplete. This, the accuser claimed, should invalidate the Cabinet’s formation and implementation of its policy statement.

When leading the swearing-in ceremony before the King, Prayut failed to recite the final sentence of the compulsory oath: “I will also uphold and observe the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand in every respect.”

Due to this omission, opposition politicians and political activists questioned the validity of his premiership.

In September 2019, the Constitutional Court rejected the petition on grounds that it was “not authorised” to make a ruling on the oath-taking ceremony.

In a unanimous judgement, the court said the oath-taking concerns an action that reflects a “specific relationship” between the Cabinet and the King and can be considered a political issue under an act of government.

Case on prohibited status

A petition was filed by 110 opposition MPs from seven political parties in June 2019 asking the Constitutional Court to rule whether Prayut is prohibited from holding a Cabinet position under the charter.

The accusers contended that Prayut’s status as PM should end because he was also serving as head of the junta National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) at the time of his appointment. For them, the position should have been regarded as “other official of the state”, a prohibited status for any Cabinet member.

In September 2019, the Constitutional Court ruled that the NCPO chief was not an “other official”, clearing the way for Prayut to stay on as head of the government.

Military residence case

In November 2020, MP Prasert Chantararuangthong, in his capacity as secretary-general of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, filed a petition with the court through the House speaker, asking whether Prayut violated the Constitution by living in his military residence.

Prasert cited Articles 184 and 186 of the Constitution, which prohibits government ministers from receiving any special benefits from a government agency. The accuser said Prayut had lived in his military residence at no cost even though he he had retired as Army general.

In December 2020, the Constitutional Court ruled that Prayut did not violate the charter clause in question, as his stay at the military residence was in line with a 2005 regulation of the Royal Thai Army, which lets Army chiefs stay on base after they retire if they continue serving the country.

Green Line interference

In April 2019, 72 opposition MPs petitioned the Constitutional Court, accusing Prayut of violating the charter by issuing an executive order to extend the concession period of the Green Line mass transit project to 40 years, even though the existing concessionaire only had 10 years left.

The accusers asked the court to remove Prayut from office for “interfering or intervening in the acquisition of any concession from the state”, a prohibition stated for any government minister.

Prayut had issued the order in April 2019 while he was serving as NCPO head.

In July 2021, the Constitutional Court dismissed the petition, saying the constitutional provisions on the termination of ministerial status only covered people holding the position of minister at the time. Prayut was also not subject to disqualification because the court said he had vacated his prime minister’s seat in the 2019 general election.

Eight-year tenure case

In the latest case against Prayut, the Constitutional Court ruled by a 6:3 majority on September 30 that his eight-year term in office did not expire on August 24 this year.

The verdict said the prime minister’s tenure should be counted from April 6, 2017, when the current Constitution was promulgated. His previous leadership did not apply under this charter, the court ruled.

On August 24, the opposition petitioned the court, asking if Prayut had completed his eight-year tenure. The petition cited the fact that he had served as PM since August 24, 2014, three months after he led a military coup to oust an elected government.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020606

Morality comes before law, says one of 9 judges ruling over Prayut’s tenure case

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2022

One of the three minority judges working on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s tenure case said “morality must come before the law for good governance”.

Constitutional Court justice Twekiat Menakanist said he believes a good government needs to strictly observe ethical values to end any “crisis of faith” the public may have.

His judgment said that intolerance of ideas and frequent changes to the “social contract” can make people lose faith in that agreement.

Twekiat, 69, had been a lecturer at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law between 1975 and 2013 before joining the Constitutional Court. He became a professor of law in 2011.

On Friday, the Constitutional Court ruled that General Prayut can be reinstated as prime minister because he has not served the maximum eight-year term stipulated in the current charter.

The nine judges voted 6:3 in favour of Prayut.

Unlike previous charters, the current Constitution clearly stipulates a time limit for the PM’s tenure. Its Article 158 states: “The prime minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total, whether or not consecutively. However, this shall not include the period during which the prime minister carries out duties after vacating the office.”

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020601

Bangkok facing weekend of protests as anger at Prayut ruling rises

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2022

THE NATION

The anti-government Kana Lomruam Prachachon (Melting Pot Group) has scheduled a protest against the prime minister in Bangkok on Sunday. The group announced it will gather at the 14 October 1973 Memorial in Phra Nakhon district from 5pm.

Led by former red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan and lawyer Nitithorn Lamlua, the group was at Ratchaprasong Intersection on Friday to witness the Constitutional Court’s ruling on General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s tenure as prime minister.

The court ruled by a 6:3 majority that Prayut had not reached the constitutional eight-year limit of his term, which should be counted from April 6, 2017 when the current charter came into force.

Jatuporn, responding to the verdict from a Ratchaprasong stage, said Prayut had already completed his term since he assumed office on August 24, 2014 after leading the military coup. Jatuporn also insisted that the “3Ps Regime” must be stopped.

The 3Ps refers to Prayut, Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan, and Interior Minister General Anupong “Pok” Paochinda. The trio are former commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army and brothers-in-arms since their days as junior officers.

Jatuporn also offered moral support to the Ratsadon Group, who scheduled an anti-government rally at Victory Monument on Saturday.

THE NATION