Justice deputy permanent secretary and spokesman Thawatchai Thaikhiew said yesterday that following Chitpas’s initial application seeking financial help from the Justice Fund, the fund had requested that she submit her tax documents to prove she should be a priority.

The ministry’s fund managers had sent her a request form by mail, Thawatchai said, but it was not signed for and was returned to the fund.

Subsequently, fund managers chose not to scrap her request, Thawatchai added.

Chitpas was eligible to re-apply anytime, the spokesman said.

The Justice Fund was set up in 2006 and is open to anyone needing financial assistance in pursuit of a lawsuit but gives priority to low-income earners.

Chitpas is widely recognised as an heiress to a giant beverage corporation, and has changed her surname at her family’s request.

It has been speculated that she had applied for financial assistance to stall for time in the criminal cases against her.

The charges stem from the 2013 to 2014 demonstrations aimed at toppling the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.

Chitpas was one of the key leaders in the now-defunct movement officially known as the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

She had postponed a meeting with public prosecutors, citing the pending application to the Justice Fund.

The fund reportedly sought financial documents from Chitpas several times and extended the time period for her to respond, but officials say that she never did.

Chitpas has also faced severe public censure after the news went public about her application to the fund.

She had a previous case regarding her social and financial status.

During the PDRC protest, Chitpas gave an interview to a foreign media outlet that was perceived as an insult to rural people. The incident has made her a prime target of criticism ever since.

The top court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders yesterday resumed the trial in a criminal case, in which Thaksin is charged with malfeasance in connection with his government’s approval for the state-owned Export-Import Bank to lend the Myanmar government Bt4 billion at a low interest rate for its telecoms project.

The borrowed money was used to buy equipment from Shin Satellite, a company within the Shin Corp group, which was owned by Thaksin’s family.

In July 2008, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) brought the case to the court. However, the top court later suspended the case because Thaksin had fled the country.

Legal action was resumed after a 2017 amendment of the Procedural Act of Criminal Cases against Political Office Holders law allowed for defendants to be tried in absentia, although they can appoint their lawyer and show up to fight their case at any stage of the trial.

Neither Thaksin nor his lawyer showed up for the resumed trial on Wednesday. The NACC, as the prosecution, sent its representatives to attend.

The court ordered a warrant to be issued for the defendant’s arrest and scheduled October 31 for both the defence and the prosecution to submit the lists of their witnesses and plans for their hearings.

Under the amended law, the trial of corruption cases that were suspended because the defendants were absent shall resume three months following the issuance of an arrest warrant if the fugitives cannot be apprehended.

Thaksin, 69, has lived in exile overseas since he left the country in 2008. The Supreme Court in October that year sentenced Thaksin to two years in jail for abusing his power while in office. He was found guilty of violating the anti-corruption law for allowing the sale of a state-seized coveted land plot in the Ratchadaphisek area to his then-wife, Khunying Pojaman Na Pombejra.

Prior to the latest arrest warrant being issued on Wednesday, Thaksin faced four arrest warrants in connection with cases stemming from his government’s policies – the Ratchadaphisek land scandal, the conversion of telecoms concessions into excise tax, a Bt9.9-billion Krungthai Bank loan to a property company and the Finance Ministry’s takeover of Thai Petrochemical Industry Plc.

Thaksin is also a co-defendant in another case, in which the NACC in 2008 accused him and his fellow Cabinet members of malfeasance in connection with a special lottery project. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division on Political Office Holders is scheduled to begin the resumed trial of the case on July 25.

Pheu Thai claimed that government figures allowed a pro-Prayut group to make political moves freely while other parties are being restricted by the junta ban on political activities.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said the government figures accused by Pheu Thai did nothing wrong.

“I have no party. Why did they link me to this matter? I didn’t do anything. They may complain if they like. We have not done anything wrong,” said Prawit, who is also the defence minister and a leader of the ruling junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that he has not joined any political group or party.

Pheu Thai filed its complaint with the EC on Monday, alleging that a political group called Sam Mit (Three Friends) was wooing former MPs to join a new political party named Palang Pracharat, which supports Prayut’s return |as head of a post-election government.

Pheu Thai politician Suchart Lainam-ngoen, who filed the petition on the party’s behalf, said many government figures are behind Palang Pracharat, including Prawit and Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.

“Although Palang Pracharat has not yet officially become a political party, it is taking advantage over other parties,” Suchart said.

He claimed that the accused |government figures had violated the Constitution by abusing their power in encouraging Sam Mit leaders and veteran politicians Suriya Juengruangruangkit and Somsak Thepsuthin to persuade former members of parliament to defect to Palang Pracharat.

Suchart also said Suriya and Somsak violated the Political Party Act by offering benefits to former MPs in exchange for future defections.

Prawit also said that the junta would lift its ban on political activities only after the prime minister meets party representatives in September.

Key government figures also denied any involvement with the group of veteran politicians who are calling themselves “Sam Mit” (Three Friends). The group includes former transport minister Suriya Juengrungruangkit and former industry minister Somsak Thepsuthin. A third “friend” in the group is said to be Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who is in charge of the government’s economic team.

Suriya and Somsak, previously key figures in the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, recently toured the Northeast to persuade former MPs to join a new party being formed to support Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s return as head of a new post-election government.

Sam Mit is believed to be connected to a new political party called Palang Pracharat, which plans to back General Prayut as its prime ministerial candidate. The party’s name is inspired by the government’s populist development project. The ruling junta National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) yesterday insisted it treated all political groups and parties equally.

NCPO spokesman Maj-General Piyapong Klinphan said it was making sure the politicians complied with relevant NCPO orders. “We have to take action against any violator,” he said.

The spokesman said the NCPO also was monitoring moves by the Sam Mit group, just like it was doing with other political parties and groups. “We will take action if the law is violated,” he added.

He was asked to comment on Sam Mit’s argument that they have not yet formed a political party so the group does not have to comply with the NCPO orders intended for existing parties.

The NCPO spokesman said, “Whatever that is not against the law can be done.”

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday dismissed the allegations of bias towards Sam Mit. “I am not biased at all,” he said, adding that he did not know Suriya personally.

“Sam Mit also has to comply with the NCPO orders just like any other political group,” he said.

He said other groups of politicians also were making their moves in preparation for the next election. That could be done as long as the NCPO orders were not violated, he added. “They gathered for golf games and nobody seemed to complain,” said Prawit, who is also the defence minister.

Deputy PM Somkid yesterday denied any involvement with Sam Mit, saying that he knew nothing much about the group’s moves.

“They are my friends. I know people in most political parties,” said Somkid, who is believed to be a key figure behind Palang Pracharat.

He died on Sunday night at home, after having earlier been treated at Chulabhorn Hospital. Kanin was an elected member of the Constitution Drafting Assembly, which wrote the highly praised “People’s Constitution” of 1997. The charter was regarded as one of the country’s most democratic.

Kanin was known for his expertise in legal affairs, political institutions and constitutions. He authored books on the history of Thai constitutions, the top laws of foreign countries, and Thai political reform efforts. Over the course of his political career spanning almost four decades, he was affiliated with many political parties.

A senior legal expert of the Pheu Thai Party, Kanin headed its working group assigned to monitor the drafting of the current 2017 Constitution. He became a staunch critic of the current charter, which came into effect in April last year. He pointed to certain clauses viewed as weaknesses or troublesome in the draft constitution before it was put to a national referendum in August 2016.

Pheu Thai’s secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said yesterday that he had last called on Kanin on Saturday. “I learned that his condition was in the final stage. But I did not think [his passing] would be so soon,” he said.

Born on October 15, 1946, in Chon Buri province, Kanin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Thammasat University, and a master’s in the same field from the University of Houston in the US.

Before entering politics, he worked as an official at Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Parliament Secretariat, and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.

In 1979, at the age of 33, he contested a general election under the Social Action Party and became an MP for his home province of Chon Buri. Six years later, he ran under the Democrat Party and was elected an MP for Bangkok.

Following the Black May incident in 1992, which led to the dissolution of the House of Representatives that was just elected in March that year, Kanin contested the election under the Solidarity Party and was again elected an MP from his home province Chon Buri.

In 1996, Kanin was elected a constitution drafter from Chon Buri to sit in the assembly that would write the country’s new charter. The drafting of a new constitution was part of a political reform demanded by the public at that time. The drafting assembly’s 1997 Constitution was a rare charter in not having been written after a military coup. However, that historic charter, popularly called the “People’s Constitution”, was scrapped after the September 2006 coup.

The policy includes seeking geopolitical support in the wake of robust developments over the Korean Peninsula and forging economic ties with Thailand, which lasted year shared trade valued at US$11.7 billion (Bt388 billion) with the republic.

Kang met Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai on Monday, the occasion of the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Prayut underlined his government’s much-hyped Eastern Economic Corridor, telling Kang that the country would welcome Korean investment in the mega-project.

“[I] hope that South Korea will see potentials and opportunities to support trade and investment between the two countries even more,” Prayut said, as quoted by Deputy Government Spokesperson Lt-General Werachon Sukondhapatipak.

In May, Thailand and South Korea agreed to set up a new joint committee for cooperation on trade and investment. Thailand is promoting the EEC scheme including human resources development, supports to SMEs and 10-targeted industries through the committee.

The two countries also held the Maekyung Thailand Forum last month, attended by hundreds of business entities from both countries.

Kwon Pyung-oh, president and CEO of Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, said back then that the promotion of economic ties would help reduce South Korea’s trade dependence on the US and China.

The New Southern Policy is being pushed by the Moon Jae-in administration to level up ties with Asean to compete with that of the US, China, Japan and Russia in areas of geopolitical values, growth potential and resources.

This also includes Asean’s pivot to the Korean Peninsula. While some Southeast Asian countries including Thailand maintain diplomatic relations with North Korea, they mostly adhere to the anti-nuclear-launch international resolution when taking a stance on that country’s aggression.

Prayut on Monday also congratulated Kang for a successful historic North-South Korea summit, as well as the US-North Korea summit, which the premier said “reflect wills to achieve sustained peace, stability and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula”.

Kang replied that South Korea would have to overcome challenges and push forward to build peace in the region, according to a source.South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha  meets her Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai

The young Thai artist addressed the dark side of Thailand four years after the 2014 coup d’etat in his solo debut, “Welcome to the Dark Side”, which opened yesterday at Voice Space located in the Voice TV compound on Vibhavadhi Rangsit Road.

Headache Stencil is known for his street graffiti mocking Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan over his collection of luxury wristwatches. Headache Stencil earned harassment headaches from the junta and his creation was scrubbed away.

“My art reflects dictatorship, corruption and the loss of freedom in our society,” Headache Stencil told The Sunday Nation.

“It’s the artist’s most important role to mirror society’s illnesses and tell the world what Thailand is now facing under military junta rulers.”

His graffiti art is displayed in the 120-square-metre maze, greeted by a mascot depicting a primer portrait in the |shape of Japanese maneki-neko cat.

Walking into the maze, audiences face the multiple complex socio-political issues the nation faces.

A submarine ordered from China by the junta is portrayed on one wall, while another depicts alarm clocks with a portrait of Prawit and his luxury wristwatches.

Allegedly corrupt Buddhist monks are on another corner, and nearby are crossed fingers with the words, “Please give priority to children, ladies   and dictatorship”.

The artist has named the Kingdom under military rule as “Kala Land” or “the land under the coconut shell”.

It’s symbolised by a photo of a coconut shell overlaid with a gun near a couple of doves – the symbol of peace.

At the end of the labyrinth, the artist has installed a ballot box with the word “Freedom” surrounded by soldiers in boots with no-entry tapes.

“Thailand is now like a maze. We’re finding the way out of this political maze,” he added. “An elected democracy is the only way to take us out of this maze.”

Dozens of his fans flocked to the show, which runs through July 6, as they oppose censorship. They take selfies with his artwork and post them on social media.

“I hope they will help spread the word on the socio-political situation in Thailand throughout the world,” said the artist.

The Ratchaburi Provincial Court verdict yesterday was the second of four lese majeste cases against the singer.

This case stemmed from a speech Thanat, better known as Tom Dundee, delivered at a red-shirt rally in Ratchaburi province in August 2010.

According to rights defenders iLaw, Thanat turned himself in and acknowledged the charge in 2012.

But he was not detained and legal action was shelved until the prosecutor brought the case to court in January, this year. Meanwhile, he was already serving a jail sentence after being found guilty in his first lese majeste case. Thanat had been indicted on four charges of lese majeste under Article 112 of the Penal Code – the highest number of such prosecutions under the current junta regime, according to iLaw.

The first two charges resulted from YouTube videos posted in 2013 featuring speeches he made in 2009. The first case saw him handed 15 years in jail for three counts of insulting the monarchy but the sentence was reduced to seven years and six months since he had confessed.

Thanat also confessed to charges in the second YouTube video case, where his sentence was reduced by two-thirds to three years and four months. In total, he has to serve 10 years and 10 months in prison, and has so far been jailed for nearly four years since his July 2014 arrest. He was indicted on two more charges while in jail.

In March, the court acquitted Thanat of lese majeste for his political speech in northern Lamphun province in 2010, on the grounds that there was not sufficient evidence.

“Free and fair elections will strengthen Thailand as a leader in the region and will also [open] new opportunities to further strengthen our partnerships,” Davies said in a toasting speech to the US Independence Day early celebration on Thursday night.

Davies told reporters that democracy is best way to connect the country’s people with the government and that Americans “want Thailand to be successful, strong and prosperous” and “have hopes for an early return to democracy to move forward society together”. The envoy refused to comment, however, on making concrete the junta’s so-called “roadmap to democracy” as well as constitutional provisions that will ensure ongoing elections.

Davies will be leaving Thailand in a few months after three years of service in the Kingdom. He made headlines back in 2016 when he publicly clashed with Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai soon after the US grilled Thailand on human-rights concerns at a UN Human Rights Council session.

Clash with Don

Summoned to the foreign ministry for a meeting with Don, the ambassador catalogued Thailand’s suppression of political rights under the junta, including prosecution of social-media users, limitations on negative public commentary about the then-draft charter and the prosecution of civilians before military courts at the time.

But it was a one-time clash as Davies, while adhering to the US core value of democracy, has largely kept a low public profile over disagreements with the Thai government.

This year, he also launched the long-prepared Great and Good Friend exhibition, which displayed artefacts exchanged between Thai kings and US presidents to celebrate the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Davies has remained in the post through the transition of the US Executive branch from |Barack Obama to incumbent Donald Trump, who personally greeted PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha at the White House last October.

While many are heartened by the Thai government’s success, a labour rights advocate notes that there is still room for improvement, especially concerning corruption and the victim screening process.

The annual report, released on Thursday in Washington, said that the Thai government had demonstrated increased efforts to address slavery and human trafficking.

Increased prosecutions, convictions of traffickers and a decrease in prosecution time for trafficking cases through the use of a specialised anti-trafficking law enforcement division were positively cited in the report.

Authorities also increased the number of investigations of suspected official complicity in trafficking crimes and had convicted 12 complicit officials in 2017, including 11 officials involved in the trafficking of Rohingya migrants, the report added.

Top officers such as PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha, his deputy and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai were all hailed for the latest ranking, a boost from the Tier 2 Watchlist the Kingdom received from 2016 and 2017 reports.

Thailand was downgraded to the lowest Tier 3 in the 2014 and 2015 reports, which were launched during the first two years of the junta rule.

“We thank the US for seeing the Thai government’s determination to solve human trafficking. As Thailand will chair Asean next year, we will bring anti-human trafficking issues to be more tangible in Asean region,” Prayut said as quoted by Assistant Government Spokesperson Colonel Athisit Chainuwat.

The Foreign Ministry statement said: “Thailand remains deeply engaged in strengthening cooperation and partnership with all stakeholders in a whole-of-society approach, and will continue to work closely with concerned international organisations and various countries, including the US, in our ongoing attempt to end trafficking in persons.”

The US Ambassador to Thailand Glyn Davies said that the report “is aware of the continual determination of Thailand against human trafficking”, adding that the two countries share ongoing cooperation on efforts to end human trafficking.

Poj Aramwattananont, president of Thai Frozen Foods Association, praised recent measures such as establishment of a labour court and faster prosecution against wrongdoing civil servants.

“I hope that Thailand can now free itself from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing” that is a big concern of the European Union, an important seafood customer, Poj said.

Sompong Srakaew, founder of the Labour Rights Promotion Network said the tier promotion was no surprise given the increased governmental cooperation with the relevant NGOs as well as the creation of a fast-track law force.

“However, the victim screening process, corruption and brokers in trafficking circles are still underrated in the trafficking combating equation,” said Sompong, who was awarded TIP hero status by the State Department in 2008.

“In future, we should look ahead to a new mechanism that can engage actors further down the chain in finding the solution,” he said. “We also have to weigh in human rights as much as law enforcement.”