AFTER A GRAND reception to show their support for Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the people of ฺBhum Jai Thai party’s stronghold in Buri Ram and other three lower northeastern provinces had their project proposals seen by the Cabinet yesterday.

While Prayut’s field trip to the region has widely been seen as a political move, the premier said local authorities and politicians who proposed the projects would not get everything they wanted.

Among those considered yesterday included 40 projects, worth a total of Bt1 billion, on irrigation to solve flooding and drought issues. They accounted for almost half of all proposed agricultural and water resources development projects, with a total worth of Bt3.4 billion.

The projects were proposed by the private sector in Buri Ram, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum and Surin for Prayut’s Cabinet to consider during their mobile meeting in Buri Ram.

The Cabinet meeting was part of the junta premier’s two-day field trip, one among many held recently. The PM spent time talking with people, meeting local politicians and looking over local development project papers.

Prayut, who has taken frequent rural field trips for more than a year, is regarded as having gathered popularity in the provinces by keeping in touch with local authorities and politicians ahead of the election, in which the general is highly expected to seek a way to maintain power.

At yesterday’s meeting, the Cabinet looked into infrastructure, trade and investment projects, border trade, tourism and life-quality enhancement.

While most of the projects are still under assessment, they are estimated to be worth as much as Bt21 billion.

The Transport Ministry was assigned to undertake an environmental study to reconstruct Buri Ram Airport following a proposal for a new two-storey terminal building and the expansion of the current 2,100-metre runway to 3,000 metres.

“With this enhancement, the airport would have the capacity to hold a big event such as an international car race,” said Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.

Other proposals examined included a Bt70-million study for a dual-rail logistics system, Bt40 million to study the possibility of constructing a commercial airport in Surin and Bt100 million in additional budget to promote elephant tourism.

Buri Ram, a border province with a low per-capita income, has been developing as a sports hub in the past decade under the auspices of the province’s key man, Newin Chidchob.

With a long history as a “kingmaker”, backing at least three prime ministers, Newin joined 30,000 other locals who filled Chang Arena to greet Prayut on his arrival in the province.

The Cabinet’s support for a sports and development agenda is in line with the desires of Newin’s bloc and this might manifest in more political support for the PM – but both Prayut and Newin refuted the suggestion that the visit had any political agenda.

“This travel is not at all for political purposes. The government only tries to move forward with every provincial cluster,” Prayut said. “We can’t approve all the requests but we have to consider everything and decrease some budgets.

“You can’t ask for a trillion or 10 billion baht and have it all delivered,” the premier continued. This was possibly a reference to Newin’s remark to the cheering masses on Monday that the premier would give the nod to multi-billion-baht projects

Meanwhile, a Pheu Thai Party politician has claimed that Prayut’s visit to lower northeastern provinces would not alter the party’s stronghold in the region.

“He [Prayut] might not want to pull politicians from the Bhum Jai Thai party,” ex-MP Prayuth Siripanit, referring to an influential party in Buri Ram, “but it is likely that he would much want the party to support him. The scene, to me, is staged and not surprising.”

Democrat Party deputy leader Kalaya Sophonpanich also urged Prayut to distribute budgets to all northeastern provinces equally. “They might not have 30,000 people cheering you but they also need support,” she said.

Its previous occupant, Phuchong Nutrawong, lost the job in December 2015 after failing an annual performance review. Jarungwit had served as caretaker since then.

The process to select a new head for the EC began in early 2016 but had suffered several hiccups.

It was initially delayed when candidates disqualified by the selection committee appealed the decision at the Administrative Court.

When the process resumed, the EC voted to select Aumpol Wongsiri, formerly secretary-general of the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission. But that appointment was scrapped when Aumpol was found guilty of malfeasance by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

The new round of selection began earlier this year with six applicants. Among them were the EC’s deputy secretary-general Sawang Boonmee and former EC member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn.

Krit Auawong, an EC deputy secretary-general, said yesterday that the Election Commission, down to four members after Somchai’s sacking, voted to select Jarungwit on the basis of his vision, performance and interview.

Jarungwit must resign from his current position within 15 days before taking up his five-year tenure as secretary-general, according to the Constitution.

Jarungwit has served the EC since 2007 as deputy secretary-general overseeing the investigation department.

After the coup, he was appointed as a member of the now defunct National Reform Steering Assembly.

A graduate of the Royal Police Cadet Academy, the new EC head holds the rank of Police Lieutenant Colonel. He also has a law degree from Ramkhamhaeng University and a master’s degree in political science from Thammasat University.

A former wheeler-dealer who once pounded the pavements around Government House, Newin, or “Uncle Ne” as he prefers to be known, spends much of his time clad in a Buriram United Football Club jersey and shorts, riding his favourite big bike through the streets of his native Buri Ram.

After disappearing from the political scene for six years, the 59-year-old veteran politician and still de facto leader of the Bhum Jai Thai Party returned to the spotlight on Monday as he led about 30,000 locals in welcoming Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at his club’s Thunder Castle Stadium.

It was the first time Prayut, as PM, had set foot in Buri Ram, Newin’s stronghold. The PM spent the night in the province before holding a mobile Cabinet meeting yesterday, with an almost Bt21-billion development budget set to pour into Buri Ram and other lower northeastern provinces.

Critics claim Monday’s welcome ceremony was one of the biggest political events held under this junta, and a further attempt to woo old-guard politicians to support a pro-military party to prolong its power after the next election.

That bid would certainly be strengthened by forging an alliance with Newin and Bhum Jai Thai, the third largest party at the last election with 34 seats.

Having started his political career 30 years ago, Newin burst into the national limelight in the mid-1990s with the “Group of 16” – 16 young MPs of Chart Thai and the Chart Pattana Party who bandied together to boost their political bargaining power.

The group eventually scattered to different parties after corruption accusations in a land deal, before rejoining a new party under Bhum Jai Thai in 2008.

Named by his father after the notorious Burmese General Ne Win, the Buri Ram “kingmaker” played a major role in the collapse of the Democrat-led government, and brought his faction to support Thaksin Shinawatra under the Thai Rak Thai Party, before switching his support back to Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and his bid to become prime minister.

He also served as a minister in three administrations, under Banharn Silpa-archa, Chuan Leekpai, and Thaksin.

In 2007, Newin was banned from politics for five years following the dissolution of the former Thai Rak Thai Party by a Constitutional Court ruling. He decided to leave the political arena to devote time to his hometown Buri Ram, 410 kilometres northeast of Bangkok.

The former politician is credited with transforming a Northeast backwater into a centre for sport and tourism in just six years.

And he’s proud of his accomplishments for his home province.

“The 20 years I spent in politics count for nothing compared to the past six years. I can do so much more than as a politician,” Newin told The Nation in an interview two years ago.

As the president of Buriram United, Newin created a number of eye-catching landmarks in the provincial seat, including the Fifa-standard Thunder Castle Stadium with a capacity of 32,000 seats; the 50,000-seat Chang International Circuit for motorsports, the first in Thailand to meet top-tier racing standards; and the Amari Buriram United, Thailand’s first soccer-themed hotel. The Bt370-million Buriram Castle mall is his latest major project.

Newin boasted that his business empire has helped quadruple the number of tourists in Buri Ram, from 600,000 to 2.5 million a year.

“These landmark destinations have created jobs and income for people in this city. The venues have increased the value of assets in the surrounding area by no less than 200 per cent,” Newin said in the interview.

He is also a man who has never stopped thinking big.

“My ultimate goal is to build the city into a hub of football, motor sport and finally a centre for health and wellness,” he said.

Two year ago, he said without hesitation that he never missed or wanted to discuss politics.

“When I watch the political news I always pour ceremonial water and wish the karma of those who remain in politics to be over,” he said, using the Thai religious ceremony of pouring water to dedicate merit to the departed, as a metaphor.

“If you want to talk about politics, go and talk with Gen Prayut. Don’t talk to me,” he said loudly and clearly when asked if he thought an election would be held next year [2017] as laid out in the junta’s road map and whether Thaksin’s camp could win the election.

But, for now, the political big gun turned football-club owner is facing an even bigger decision: whether to become “kingmaker” again to support Prayut.

AFTER A GRAND reception to show their support for Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the people of ฺBhum Jai Thai party’s stronghold in Buri Ram and other three lower northeastern provinces had their project proposals seen by the Cabinet yesterday.

While Prayut’s field trip to the region has widely been seen as a political move, the premier said local authorities and politicians who proposed the projects would not get everything they wanted.

Among those considered yesterday included 40 projects, worth a total of Bt1 billion, on irrigation to solve flooding and drought issues. They accounted for almost half of all proposed agricultural and water resources development projects, with a total worth of Bt3.4 billion.

The projects were proposed by the private sector in Buri Ram, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum and Surin for Prayut’s Cabinet to consider during their mobile meeting in Buri Ram.

The Cabinet meeting was part of the junta premier’s two-day field trip, one among many held recently. The PM spent time talking with people, meeting local politicians and looking over local development project papers.

Prayut, who has taken frequent rural field trips for more than a year, is regarded as having gathered popularity in the provinces by keeping in touch with local authorities and politicians ahead of the election, in which the general is highly expected to seek a way to maintain power.

At yesterday’s meeting, the Cabinet looked into infrastructure, trade and investment projects, border trade, tourism and life-quality enhancement.

While most of the projects are still under assessment, they are estimated to be worth as much as Bt21 billion.

The Transport Ministry was assigned to undertake an environmental study to reconstruct Buri Ram Airport following a proposal for a new two-storey terminal building and the expansion of the current 2,100-metre runway to 3,000 metres.

“With this enhancement, the airport would have the capacity to hold a big event such as an international car race,” said Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.

Other proposals examined included a Bt70-million study for a dual-rail logistics system, Bt40 million to study the possibility of constructing a commercial airport in Surin and Bt100 million in additional budget to promote elephant tourism.

Buri Ram, a border province with a low per-capita income, has been developing as a sports hub in the past decade under the auspices of the province’s key man, Newin Chidchob.

With a long history as a “kingmaker”, backing at least three prime ministers, Newin joined 30,000 other locals who filled Chang Arena to greet Prayut on his arrival in the province.

The Cabinet’s support for a sports and development agenda is in line with the desires of Newin’s bloc and this might manifest in more political support for the PM – but both Prayut and Newin refuted the suggestion that the visit had any political agenda.

“This travel is not at all for political purposes. The government only tries to move forward with every provincial cluster,” Prayut said. “We can’t approve all the requests but we have to consider everything and decrease some budgets.

“You can’t ask for a trillion or 10 billion baht and have it all delivered,” the premier continued. This was possibly a reference to Newin’s remark to the cheering masses on Monday that the premier would give the nod to multi-billion-baht projects

Meanwhile, a Pheu Thai Party politician has claimed that Prayut’s visit to lower northeastern provinces would not alter the party’s stronghold in the region.

“He [Prayut] might not want to pull politicians from the Bhum Jai Thai party,” ex-MP Prayuth Siripanit, referring to an influential party in Buri Ram, “but it is likely that he would much want the party to support him. The scene, to me, is staged and not surprising.”

Democrat Party deputy leader Kalaya Sophonpanich also urged Prayut to distribute budgets to all northeastern provinces equally. “They might not have 30,000 people cheering you but they also need support,” she said.

A group of mostly former Pheu Thai MPs recently met ex-PM Thaksin and his younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra, also a fugitive former prime minister, in Singapore.

The politicians said they called on Thaksin due to their “affection” towards him, adding that their visit did not mean he retained his influence over them.

“Everyone went because of their love and affection. They just wanted to meet [Thaksin and Yingluck]. It didn’t mean they would allow themselves to be influenced,” said former Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema.

However, Election Commission (EC) caretaker secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma warned their meeting invited a charge that it violated the Political Parties Act. The law prohibits political parties from allowing outsiders to influence its internal affairs and bars individuals from controlling or dominating the internal affairs of a party.

Any individual found guilty risks imprisonment of between five to 10 years, a fine of Bt100,000 to Bt200,000, and a lifetime ban from contesting an election.

According to the law, the EC may seek a Constitutional Court order for dissolution of the violating party. Moreover, the law prohibits the dissolved party’s executive members from standing as MPs, running any party or setting up a new party for the rest of their lives

The penalties are equivalent to a death sentence for the political life of any politician found guilty.

Jarungvith said that a normal meeting was not against the law but that the recent Singapore meeting might draw complaints of a possible violation of the Political Parties Act.

“I don’t want to see any political party violate the Political Parties Act. I would like to ask people involved to carefully study the law to prevent any problem that could follow.”

He noted that any influence or domination by a non-executive of the party involved could be deemed a violation of the law. Thaksin holds no executive post in Pheu Thai but has retained much influence among its politicians, many of whom refer to him as “Big Boss”.

Both Thaksin and Yingluck are living overseas, having escaped prison sentences at home. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders in 2008 sentenced Thaksin in absentia to two years in jail for abuse of power. In September last year, the same court sentenced his sister in absentia to five years’ imprisonment for negligence.

The provisions against outsider influence are unprecedented for any Thai law on political parties. Critics say the drafters certainly had Thaksin in mind while conceiving the legislation.

At the 2011 general election, Pheu Thai’s dominant slogan was “Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai does it”. The party’s election victory catapulted Yingluck to the premiership and her government realised the slogan by putting into practice many policies suggested by her brother.

Even the controversial bill that would give a blanket amnesty to everyone involved in political disputes was believed to have had Thaksin in the background. The proposed law drew massive street protests and eventually led to a military coup in May 2014 that overthrew the Pheu Thai-led administration.

With the tough provisions in the Political Parties Act, Pheu Thai can no longer use Thaksin’s popularity in a bid to woo support from rural voters.

Its key figures have attempted to distance the party from Thaksin, while the man himself appears to be careful when talking about his ties with Pheu Thai. During his recent visit to Japan, he predicted “another landslide victory” for Pheu Thai but was quick to add that: “I am not involved with the party. They really don’t want me to get involved.”

In fact, party dissolution is not new to Thaksin. Two political parties linked to him – Thai Rak Thai and People Power – were dissolved by court order for violating the law. However, punishments for violators are harsher under the new law. In addition to dissolution of their party, politicians involved also risk lifetime political bans and imprisonment of up to 10 years.

JUNTA LEADER General Prayut Chan-o-cha faces fresh criticism for attempting to woo old-guard politicians to support a pro-military party, during his latest trip to the Northeast that began yesterday.

In Buri Ram, where he took to the stage cheered by a crowd of around 30,000 locals, Prayut may be hoping that his Bt20-billion development budget will win him the support of local political heavyweights, paving the way to election success.

Local power the Bhum Jai Thai Party came third in the last election, in 2011, when it gained 34 parliamentary seats.

While securing Bhum Jai Thai’s support would help guarantee the junta’s role in the post-election administration, it would still leave the military bloc a long way short of the 200 seats it needs to surpass the Pheu Thai Party, which at the last polls gained 265 seats, accounting for 53 per cent of all seats.

Four years ago this month, Prayut staged a coup and blamed politicians as the root cause behind half of the country’s problems.

But today, all signs point to Prayut building an alliance made up of those same politicians he pledged to eradicate from power after the coup.

“Prayut has become the ultimate hypocrite,” Paul Chambers, a Thailand-based expert on the kingdom’s politics, told AFP.

After endless politician-bashing, “now Prayut and the [junta] are using many of these same corrupt politicians to build a political party”.

The comment came as Prayut set out on his visit to Buri Ram, where he was welcomed by local political “kingmaker” Newin Chidchob.

Newin, who played significant roles in the premierships of Thaksin Shinawatra and Abhisit Vejjajiva, vowed to distance himself from political activities in 2011 but is still regarded as an influential local figure.

Bhum Jai Thai’s current leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, also made an appearance on stage yesterday, and claimed that the mass local gathering had no political agenda. “It’s still too soon to think about it [the election] now. We don’t know yet how many MPs we’ll have,” Anutin said.

Prayut had just three weeks ago appointed political figures influential in the eastern seaboard to Cabinet-level adviser positions – a move that caused many to wonder whether the general’s impression of politicians had already been changed under pressure to attract credibility for his own future political ambitions.

In recent months, Prayut has reportedly also met with Sasomsub family, another powerful political clan based in Nakhon Pathom.

“Prayut understands how politics functions. If you want to win an election as a newcomer you have to collaborate with existing powers in provinces,” said politics professor Titipol Phakdeewanich.

Yesterday marked the start of Prayut’s two-day visit in the lower northeastern provinces of Surin and Buri Ram before he heads a mobile Cabinet meeting today.

Praising Buri Ram as “culturally rich province with peace and no political conflict” and “a good model of people unity”, Prayut yesterday promised the mass gathering he would fix the problems for a province that suffers low income per capita.

The Bt20-billion local development budget would be distributed to four Northeast provinces, to set up sports-science centre in Buri Ram, expand Buri Ram airport, develop the irrigation system, |and cultivate border trade and |tourism.

In Surin, where Prayut visited a local silk village, he was greeted by 3,000 people.

Provincial authorities, meanwhile, are expected to ask the Cabinet to grant over 84 rai (13 hectares) under the Department of Highways to build a new customs checkpoint.

The current Cambodia-border checkpoint at Chong Chom last year saw total trade value of Bt3.01 billion with key local products being fuel, juice drinks and soft drinks.

A group of mostly former Pheu Thai MPs recently met ex-PM Thaksin and his younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra, also a fugitive former prime minister, in Singapore.

The politicians said they called on Thaksin due to their “affection” towards him, adding that their visit did not mean he retained his influence over them.

“Everyone went because of their love and affection. They just wanted to meet [Thaksin and Yingluck]. It didn’t mean they would allow themselves to be influenced,” said former Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema.

However, Election Commission (EC) caretaker secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma warned their meeting invited a charge that it violated the Political Parties Act. The law prohibits political parties from allowing outsiders to influence its internal affairs and bars individuals from controlling or dominating the internal affairs of a party.

Any individual found guilty risks imprisonment of between five to 10 years, a fine of Bt100,000 to Bt200,000, and a lifetime ban from contesting an election.

According to the law, the EC may seek a Constitutional Court order for dissolution of the violating party. Moreover, the law prohibits the dissolved party’s executive members from standing as MPs, running any party or setting up a new party for the rest of their lives

The penalties are equivalent to a death sentence for the political life of any politician found guilty.

Jarungvith said that a normal meeting was not against the law but that the recent Singapore meeting might draw complaints of a possible violation of the Political Parties Act.

“I don’t want to see any political party violate the Political Parties Act. I would like to ask people involved to carefully study the law to prevent any problem that could follow.”

He noted that any influence or domination by a non-executive of the party involved could be deemed a violation of the law. Thaksin holds no executive post in Pheu Thai but has retained much influence among its politicians, many of whom refer to him as “Big Boss”.

Both Thaksin and Yingluck are living overseas, having escaped prison sentences at home. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders in 2008 sentenced Thaksin in absentia to two years in jail for abuse of power. In September last year, the same court sentenced his sister in absentia to five years’ imprisonment for negligence.

The provisions against outsider influence are unprecedented for any Thai law on political parties. Critics say the drafters certainly had Thaksin in mind while conceiving the legislation.

At the 2011 general election, Pheu Thai’s dominant slogan was “Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai does it”. The party’s election victory catapulted Yingluck to the premiership and her government realised the slogan by putting into practice many policies suggested by her brother.

Even the controversial bill that would give a blanket amnesty to everyone involved in political disputes was believed to have had Thaksin in the background. The proposed law drew massive street protests and eventually led to a military coup in May 2014 that overthrew the Pheu Thai-led administration.

With the tough provisions in the Political Parties Act, Pheu Thai can no longer use Thaksin’s popularity in a bid to woo support from rural voters.

Its key figures have attempted to distance the party from Thaksin, while the man himself appears to be careful when talking about his ties with Pheu Thai. During his recent visit to Japan, he predicted “another landslide victory” for Pheu Thai but was quick to add that: “I am not involved with the party. They really don’t want me to get involved.”

In fact, party dissolution is not new to Thaksin. Two political parties linked to him – Thai Rak Thai and People Power – were dissolved by court order for violating the law. However, punishments for violators are harsher under the new law. In addition to dissolution of their party, politicians involved also risk lifetime political bans and imprisonment of up to 10 years.

Throughout his rule Prayut, the gruff ex-general whose army seized power in May 2014, has maintained one key refrain: politicians and their cronies are the cause of the country’s political instability.

But the 64-year-old is suddenly changing tune as he looks to complete a stunning metamorphosis from dictator to elected leader at polls promised for 2019.

The retired general has been coy on formally announcing a run for office.

Yet in recent months he has been busily courting the political fiefs that dominate the country, specifically potential allies of his nemesis, the billionaire former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

On Monday Prayut rolls into Buriram, a northeastern province dominated by Newin Chidchob — an ex-politician turned sports mogul whose shape-shifting alliances have made him a key political “kingmaker”.

A full house of 36,000 is expected at Buriram FC’s “Thunder Castle” stadium to greet Prayut — an unprecedented reception for the leader, whose popularity is on the slide among the Bangkok middle class.

The public adulation will be interpreted as sign of a deal with Newin, who steers his Bhumjaithai Party from behind the scenes.

“Prayut has become the ultimate hypocrite,” said Paul Chambers, a Thailand-based expert on the kingdom’s politics.

After endless politician-bashing, “now Prayut and the (junta) are using many of these same corrupt politicians to build a political party.”

Prayut denies he his on the campaign trail, with political activity banned by his regime.

But there are few doubts he is out to complete his mission of scuttling the Shinawatras’ election machine.

The clan have won all general elections since 2001, relying on their popular appeal in the rural north and northeast.

Prayut toppled the government of Yingluck Shinatwara, Thaksin’s younger sister.

She has joined her brother in self-exile after being convicted of criminal negligence.

Their Pheu Thai party is weakened without the siblings’ star power and Prayut is seeking to overrun them at elections with the support of provincial bosses — and the mid-sized parties and vote banks they carry.

– ‘Political mafia’ –

What Newin might get for backing Prayut remains unknown. But his counterparts in eastern Chonburi province already appear to have been rewarded.

Two brothers from the Kunplome clan, who dominate Thailand’s eastern seaboard, were made cabinet-level advisors in April.

Their family is headed by elderly Somchai, dubbed the “Godfather of Chonburi”, who was released early from jail in December after serving a fraction of a 28-year sentence for masterminding the murder of a local politician.

Prayut has repeatedly denied any horsetrading is going on.

But his meetings continue to raise eyebrows, including a golf outing with another influential clique — the Pheu Thai-linked Sasomsap brothers in Nakhon Pathom.

A few years ago they were targeted by a junta crackdown on “influential figures”.

Police raids found scores of guns in raids at their homes, according to local media.

“Political mafia is a more appropriate term for these type of people,” said Thai politics professor Titipol Phakdeewanich.

The families maintain control through business links, donations and other “generous deeds”, Titipol added.

“Prayut understands how politics functions. If you want to win an election as a newcomer you have to collaborate with existing powers in provinces.”

– Same old game –

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the leader of the establishment Democrat party, said Prayut’s regime has also approached a number of his MPs.

“They talk about positions in government,” he told AFP.

Although such horse-trading is nothing new, politicians are chafing at the head start taken by a regime that continues to bar all other parties from holding meetings.

Chaturon Chaisang, a veteran Pheu Thai politician, added that some politicians may be coerced into supporting the junta in a political culture defined by personality and power rather than ideology.

“It’s an old-fashioned operation,” he told AFP.