The western territory is a tinderbox of ethnic and religious divisions and security forces have clashed with both Rohingya insurgents and much better armed Rakhine fighters from the mostly Buddhist Arakan Army.

Private Aung Kyaw Thet went missing in action after an ambush last week by unknown assailants in Maungdaw township near the border with Bangladesh.

His body was found two days ago with “gunshot wounds in his face, arm and leg near a hill inside the other country,” according to government-backed Global New Light of Myanmar.

The ambush happened the same day that two ethnic Rakhine Buddhist men disappeared while fishing in the same township and were later found with their throats slit, prompting the army to launch local “clearance operations” and raising fears of renewed large-scale violence.

Sunday’s report in Global New Light did not identify the alleged perpetrators of the shooting but said authorities found foxholes near the scene, bullet casings and biscuits manufactured in Bangladesh.

More than 720,000 Rohingya fled northern Rakhine to Bangladesh after Myanmar launched a crackdown on the Muslim minority in August 2017.

UN investigators want senior Myanmar generals to be prosecuted for genocide but the army says it was responding to attacks on border guard posts by Rohingya insurgents that killed around a dozen security forces.

The army this week called a rare ceasefire against ethnic armed groups in the northeast of the country but Rakhine state was not included.

Analysts say the military left Rakhine out because it does not want the Arakan Army to gain a foothold in the state as well as lingering concern over the less powerful Rohingya militants, who call themselves the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army.

The Democrat and Pheu Thai parties unveiled their election platforms and key candidates for the national elections scheduled for February, with a focus on economic issues and state welfare.

Former PM and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Friday his party had six policies to help low-income citizens, while Pheu Thai’s top candidates – Chatchart Sitthiphan and Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan – slammed the outgoing government’s economic policies, saying they had badly hurt middle- and low-income groups.

Both parties’ events were broadcast live on Facebook and other social-media platforms, which have become popular channels to reach voters.

Abhisit said that, if elected, the Democrats’ first move would be to accelerate the issuance of title deeds for landholders to replace other, inferior types of documents. For instance, he said, the Sor Por Kor document for land granted to small-scale farmers would become an “inheritance” document that could be used as collateral for loans.

Second, the party would establish a community water fund to help farmers get access to water resources year round, Abhisit said.

Third, it would guarantee a minimum income for all farmers – rice farmers would receive Bt10,000 for every tonne of rice produced, rubber farmers Bt60 for every kilogram of rubber sheet, and palm-oil farmers Bt10 for every kilo of palm oil. The cost of farming would also be insured, he said.

The party would guarantee an annual minimum income of Bt120,000 for labourers. Senior citizens would get Bt1,000 every month, and people earning less than Bt100,000 a year would get Bt800 per month.

However, Abhisit did not reveal how his party would finance these projects, saying that would be explained later. He also said the planned measures aimed to narrow the widening income gap.

As for Pheu Thai, former transport minister Chatchart and Khunying Sudarat figured prominently at the party’s unveiling of its policies on Friday, at an event attended many MP candidates and party members.

Sluggish economy 

Chatchart said opinion surveys clearly showed that the sluggish economy underlined the government’s failure to improve people’s financial wellbeing.

He said public and household debts had outstripped economic and income growth, hitting middle- and low-income people and causing greater inequality.

He said people in Amnat Charoen province reported a worsening problem with illicit drugs in rural areas, which he blamed on economic difficulties.

The former minister noted that the economic outlook has been battered by the lack of public and investor confidence, which he said would only be restored if the election is transparent and fair.

He criticised the government for pushing construction of a high-speed train system linking Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-tapao airports instead of opting for an inter-provincial railway that would deliver more economic benefit and spread public infrastructure development to other parts of the country.

Chatchart said the government’s welfare card system was inefficient and had not helped stimulate the economy because it was only a temporary solution to tackling poverty.

Instead, he said, the next government must ensure that people have better opportunities to reduce their poverty.

Sudarat, who chairs the party’s election strategy committee, said people everywhere – from downtown Bangkok to Khon Kaen, were unhappy with the government’s performance because the economy remained sluggish and household debts were rising.

She said Pheu Thai had more experience in economic management and would deliver a better economy if chosen to form the next administration.

Sudarat said the current government’s performance showed that economic benefits were not being distributed properly, resulting in greater inequality.

She also accused the government of being unable to generate new income and of opting for tax hikes to cover budget shortfalls.

Instead, she said, her party would focus on boosting the prices of farm produce to tackle poverty and give the country a bigger role in international trade.

Sudarat is believed to be frontrunner for the job of Pheu Thai leader, a post currently held by Pol Lt-General Viroj Pao-in.

Yesterday’s event was also attended by Viroj, party secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai, former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri, chairman of the party’s campaign committee Chalerm Yoobamrung, and chair |of the party’s legal affairs Chusak Sirinil.

TAT director Yuthasak Supakorn said the agency had nothing to do with the dinner and TAT might take legal action against those reporting the false news for defaming the agency.

It was TAT’s policy that its budget be allocated efficiently and transparently, the director said. He re-emphasised the agency had no link with the fundraising dinner hosted by Phalang Pracharat.

“Considering the financial regulations, it’s impossible to do that,” he said. “Plus, allocation of that budget needs to be passed by the TAT committee. We had no such agenda in our meetings.”

Phalang Pracharat’s Nattapon Teepsuwan, responsible for fundraising, also rejected the report that the finance ministry and TAT had made donations and joined the fundraising dinner on Wednesday.

He said the fundraising process was transparent and the party would disclose the names of the donors in a couple of weeks.

The development came after it was reported that the finance ministry and TAT may have spent more than Bt20 million to buy banquet tables which cost Bt3 million each.

The rigorous fitness test requires officers to acquire a 50 per cent pass rate, performing the two-minute session of push-ups (at least 72 times), a two-minute session of sit-ups (at least 72 times) and then a 2 kilometre run.

This was the first of two such tests conducted each fiscal year.

Army doctor Lt-Colonel Pak Loharachun from Nakhon Ratchasima’s Surathampitak Military Camp, who had been involved in the successful mission to rescue the 13 football team members who were trapped in a Chiang Rai’s flooded cave, took the test and passed with flying colours.

Apirat also later inspected the standard English language test at the college which involved 73 officers.

An award ceremony was to be held in the afternoon for the top scorers in the English and physical tests.

Paethongthan Shinawatra, or Ing, Thaksin’s youngest daughter wrote in her Facebook page that owner of the stall, Jaesen Ng, considered Thaksin the best prime minister Thailand had.

Thaksin visited the stall with Ing and his youngest sister; also former Thai premier Yingluck Shinawatra on December 18.

Thaksin has been living in self-imposed exile after being overthrown in a 2006 coup and was later sentenced in absentia to jail for corruption.

Yingluck, who was Thai premier from 2011 to 2014, also fled the country in August 2017 before a Court found her guilty of corruption and negligence.

Ing wrote that the owner of the stall was very happy to welcome them.

Ng also told Yingluck that she is very pretty and turned to Ing and asked her whether she would be the next beautiful prime minister of Thailand.

She further wrote that she was glad that there was still somebody who loved and admired her father and aunt.

According to the Star, the stall received a surprise visit from not one, but two former Thai prime ministers.

Singapore news broadcaster Channel News Asia (CNA) reported that Ng, owner of “Thaksin Beef Noodle”, located at Seah Im Food Centre near HarbourFront, had the pleasure of serving Thaksin and Yingluck.

“I was elated. After all, I named my stall after him,” the 64-year-old was quoted as saying to CNA.

He said he had wanted to meet Thaksin ever since naming his shop after him.

“I knew deep inside that I would meet him,” Ng said, adding that his stall had subsequently built up a following.

CNA reported that Ng’s love for Thai beef noodles began in 1987, when he spent a year working in Bangkok.

It said when Ng finally met Thaksin, he asked the former prime minister: “What took you so long?”

Ng said the former prime ministers liked his food, especially his pad thai and dried chilli, adding that Yingluck even took a packet of his dried chilli home.

LEGAL QUESTIONS arose yesterday over how Cabinet ministers and civil servants were able to afford seats at an extravagant fundraising dinner run by the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat Party on Wednesday.

The law on political parties prohibits state agencies from giving them donations of any kind or participating in their activities.

Each table at Wednesday’s feast cost Bt3 million and several were reserved in the names of the Finance Ministry and state agencies including the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Four tables, worth a combined Bt12 million, were reserved in the name of Phalang Pracharat secretary-general Sonthirat Sonthijirawong, who is commerce minister in the military-led government.

Twenty tables – another Bt60 million in the party’s coffers – were reserved for the Finance Ministry and three for the TAT.

Finance permanent secretary Prasong Poonthanet insisted yesterday that no state funds had been expended.

“We couldn’t possibly use state budget to buy seats at the banquet – it’s illegal,” he said. “Plus, as a state agency, we are non-partisan.”

The Nation could not reach anyone at the TAT for comment.

Attending Wednesday’s feast with Sonthirat were his fellow Cabinet members Uttama Sawanayon, Kobsak Pootrakool and Suvit Maesincee.

None of the ministers spoke onstage, despite initial plans to have them offer remarks.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who serves as the government’s chief legal expert, had advised against ministers attending the event from giving speeches because that would be breaking the law. Violating the law could get them banned from politics for five years, he warned.

Anti-corruption activist Veera Somkwamkid said yesterday the National Anti-Corruption Commission should determine how many active civil servants attended the fund-raiser and how they obtained tickets.

“If somebody paid for them, they should be scrutinised for illegally receiving a gift worth more than Bt3,000. And if they paid for themselves, they should be scrutinised for being ‘unusually rich’,” Veera said.

Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, now a member of the Democrat Party, urged the Election Commission to investigate the banquet, saying there could be legal consequences.

The Phalang Pracharat “One United Thailand” event featured 200 banquet tables and was aimed at raising around Bt600 million for the pro-junta party.

Deputy party leader Nattapol Teepsuwan said yesterday the actual take was nearly Bt650 million, against an outlay of Bt3 million.

For their contributions, attendees dined on rocket salad with prawns, smoked salmon, US scallops and avocado, shrimp ravioli, saikyo miso fillet of snow fish and, at the end, raspberry white chocolate and pralines.

Apart from the Cabinet members who are also registered party executives, guests included businessmen, celebrities and fellow influential politicians Somsak Thepsutin, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Suwat Liptapanlop, Warathep Rattanakorn and Nikorn Chamnong.

Providing the entertainment were Tata Young, Radklao Amaradis, Koh Mr Saxman and the band Nuvo.

It was the biggest fund-raiser so far staged by any political parties during the just-started campaign season.

Another pro-junta party, Action Coalition for Thailand (ACT), held a bash on Tuesday but raised only about a third of what Phalang Pracharat pocketed.

ACT treasurer Jutathat Laothammatas announced yesterday that its dinner raised Bt234 million with 234 tables priced at Bt1 million apiece.

ELECTION COMMISSION (EC) president Ittiporn Boonpracong said yesterday that international observers were welcome to monitor the upcoming election, provided they follow procedures and respect the law.

Ittiporn’s statement came after Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai rebuffed the idea of allowing outside observers, triggering heated debate recently. The minister claimed that having foreigners monitor the election would make Thailand – which becomes the Asean chair next year – look as if it lacked the ability to hold an election on its own.

The national election is scheduled for February 24, while Thailand will take the rotating position of Asean chairmanship on January 1.

Ittiporn, a former career diplomat, said yesterday that election commissioners had agreed in principle to allow international observers to monitor the long-awaited poll. He pointed out that this practice has been common since 2003, when the EC allowed foreigners to observe the voting.

However, he said, no agency has contacted the EC officially about monitoring the election.

Though the European Union (EU) has shown interest, it has yet to make official contact because the Royal Decree on the election has not been issued, he said, adding that the EC will discuss the matter again later.

As for Don’s comment that the election was an internal affair and should not involve foreigners, Ittiporn said the foreign minister’s input had no influence on the EC’s decision.

“We invite countries that have invited us to observe their elections,” he said. “And we have organisations that always monitor voting, such as the Asian Network for Free Election. They have always been allowed to observe the elections, and they know how to proceed. Nothing has changed.”

As for concerns that the elections are being held under extraordinary circumstances after four years of junta-backed rule, Ittiporn said it was not the EC’s responsibility to consider this issue.

“We will only consider observers if they agree to follow our rules,” he said. “Anything beyond that will be looked into on a case-by-case basis.”

Campaign guidelines

Over the past week, debate over the matter has become heated. While Don announced it was unnecessary for foreigners to monitor the first election in five years, critics shot back, saying international scrutiny was necessary to enhance the credibility of the vote and the government that will follow. And since the election is being held under a coup-installed regime without checks and balances, proponents argue that foreign observers are especially necessary to ensure the process is open and transparent.

With the election less than three months away, the EC yesterday also met with political parties to discuss campaign guidelines, which are expected to be published early next month.

Yesterday’s meeting, attended by 154 politicians from 77 parties, covered issues such as the size of campaign banners and where they can be displayed as well as what would be allowed in online campaigning.

Politicians raised questions about whether it was possible to depict political outsiders in the banners, with many expressing concern that it may go against the law and result in parties facing dissolution.

Future Forward Party’s secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul said yesterday that the rules and regulations should allow parties more freedom.

“Even if they ban photos of outsiders, voters will still know who is backing which parties,” he said.

However, the EC chief said no conclusion had been reached yet and that the commission would consider the ideas floated yesterday and come up with campaign guidelines at the start of the new year.

EC chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong said that the presence of foreign observers had been permitted during previous election dating back to 2003.

“Therefore, our meeting agreed in principle to continue it in next year’s national poll, as there is no reason to change the action. However, they would have to work under our regulations and respect Thailand’s laws,” Ittiporn, a former ambassador, told reporters.

As Thailand has not yet passed an election Bill, no country has officially requested to observe the February 24 election.

He dismissed reports that Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai had voiced opposition to allowing foreign observers into the country during the election. A careful reading of Don’s interview comments would find that he supported the idea, said Ittiporn.

In principle, those countries who had previously invited Thai observers to monitor their elections would be invited, he said.