Category Archives: politics

‘Army chiefs not involved in GT200 purchase’

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BOMB DETECTOR

THE NATION June 23, 2016 1:00 am
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NATIONAL Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) member Preecha Lertkamolmat said yesterday that no former army chiefs were involved in the procurement of GT200 bomb detectors, adding that some lower-ranking officials played a role in the purchase.

He said the commission was focusing its probe into whether the GT200 bomb detectors procured were overpriced.

NACC member Withaya Arkompitak said the commission’s probe into the GT200 procurement would be wrapped up soon. The anti-graft agency is complying with the goal of completing investigation into all big cases that captured public attention by September, he said.

Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had assigned the Anti-Corruption Operation Centre (ACOC) under his ministry to check the procurement procedures of the GT200 and ordered Wissanu to check legality issues over seeking claims.

He said there were two issues surrounding the GT200, the procurement procedure and the claiming of compensation.

He said as secretary-general of the ACOC he had to look into details of the case but he had not received a letter from the Office of the Auditor General yet.

Auditor-General Pisit Leela-vachiropas had earlier told the ACOC and the Office of Money Laundering to sue and seize the assets of the Thailand-based sales agent of the bogus GT200 bomb detector and device.

Paiboon said according to legal steps, he had to submit the case to the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission first.

He said as one of the countries that is a damaged party, Thailand must be protected by law.

A British court last week ordered that assets worth 7.9 million pounds (Bt375 million) be confiscated from James McCormick and given to governments that bought the faulty device.

The businessman began serving a 10-year jail term in 2013 for producing the GT200 and the Alpha 6 drug detectors.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the Office of the Attorney General was expected to represent eight state agencies that bought the GT200 in claiming compensation for the bogus device.

He said the government could not interfere in NACC’s investigation over irregularities in the purchase of the bomb detector.

Wissanu said that even though the NACC had not yet completed its investigation, it would not affect the move to claim compensation. The commission was looking into criminal activities, but seeking compensation is a civil action.

He said the damage incurred from the purchase amounted to between Bt600 million and Bt800 million.

He said the government would decide whether to file a suit seeking compensation through a Thai or British court.

“We have to see legality issues in terms of advantages and disadvantages [over which court to file a suit],” he said.

Wissanu also denied that the government feared the investigation would hit a stumbling block, saying “We must proceed with the investigation. Do not jump to conclusions. Today the NACC is looking at the issues and the government cannot do this.”

Thailand’s Army, police, Central Institute of Forensic Science and Customs Department acquired 1,358 devices for Bt1.13 billion.

19 red leaders to face charges over violating ban on gathering

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UDD

THE NATION June 23, 2016 1:00 am
Leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship led by Jatuporn Prompan file a petition with Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan at the Complaint Centre of the Civil Service Commission in Bangkok yesterday.

Leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship led by Jatuporn Prompan file a petition with Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan at the Complaint Centre of the Civil Service Commission in Bangkok yesterday.

NINETEEN leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) were summoned yesterday to face charges of violating the ban on political gatherings in the wake of the movement’s move to set up centres across the nation to monitor fraud during the August 7 public referendum.

The summons stated that the UDD leaders who attended the inaugural ceremony of the centres on Sunday must report to the Crime Suppression Division on June 30. They would face charges of violating the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief’s order No 3/2558 by holding a gathering of more than five people for political purposes.

The move came after NCPO’s legal expert Colonel Burin Thongprapai filed a police complaint on the order of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha seeking action against the UDD leaders.

Members of the movement, led by Jatuporn Prompan and 18 other UDD leaders, were stopped from opening one of the anti-fraud centres at the Imperial shopping mall in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao area. Similar centres were to be simultaneously inaugurated in other provinces at 10am and the ceremonies were to be broadcast live on the red-shirt Peace TV channel.

Meanwhile, Mongkolkit Suksintharanont, secretary-general of the National Anti-Corruption Network, called on the Election Commission (EC) to check if the UDD’s anti-fraud centres and Pheu Thai Party members’ Facebook posts declaring that they would reject the draft charter violated clause 1 of Article 61 of the referendum law banning political gatherings.

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Mongkolkit also suspects that the UDD leaders may have violated Article 116 of the Criminal Code, alleging that they had caused national disturbance and were a threat to national security. He also said that the UDD leaders may have violated Article 14 of the Computer Crimes Act.

Separately, UDD filed a petition with Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan, saying they were being intimidated in relation to the anti-fraud centres and called on him to review the decision to file charges against them.

“I and the other UDD leaders did not hold a [political] gathering. Police were fully deployed in our area and this legal action can be regarded as a means to frame us. Colonel Burin Thongprapa was not in the area and he could be filing a false statement,” Jatuporn said. “I want to tell General Prawit to not push us into a corner.”

Jatuporn also hit back at Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) chairman Meechai Ruchupan over allegations that some thugs were harassing charter draft specialists at the grassroots level. He claimed that Meechai’s allegations came because he was afraid the charter draft would not make it through the referendum.

In related news, the EC said it will “invite” the political cartoonist as well as the editor of Matichon Weekend to ask them about a cartoon that was deemed as disseminating false information about the draft charter.

EC commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said the cartoonist, Aroon Watcharawat, and the editor would be summoned to meet him on June 30 because of a recent cartoon published on the magazine’s website.

“We would like him to clarify whether he had misunderstood the aim of the referendum or if he had other intentions. If it was a misunderstanding, then it must be corrected, otherwise we will take action, which cannot be revealed yet,” he said. “I would like them to come here in person, but they may choose not to do so.”

He said he would send a personal invitation to the two today.

Somchai added he had already checked with the CDC and it confirmed that the cartoon portrayed incorrect information about the draft charter.

“We are not taking formal action yet because we need to find the facts first. We have seven days for fact finding, so I will invite those concerned for a talk,” Somchai said.

 

Suu Kyi faces tough Rohingya challenge

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THAI-MYANMAR RELATIONS

SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION June 23, 2016 1:00 am
Suu Kyi // File Photo

Suu Kyi // File Photo

MYANMAR State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi will face the tough issue of Rohingya refugees when she lands today in Bangkok for her first official visit to strengthen ties with Thailand.

While many observers look at her as the leader of the first civilian and elected government in half a century in contrast to her Thai counterparts in the military government, Suu Kyi, also foreign minister, chose to pay more attention to the fate of Myanmar citizens in Thailand.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that Suu Kyi‘s visit to Thailand was as a guest of the Thai government, not as a democratic icon.

“Previously [in 2012], she visited as a democratic leader, but today she is a representative of Myanmar’s government,” he told reporters.

The visit, which ends on Saturday, will highlight Myanmar migrants and refugees to illustrate the good governance of the new civilian government, said Dulyapak Preecharush, a Thammasat University expert on Southeast Asia.

Bringing with her ministers including the labour minister, as her position is equivalent to a prime minister in her country, would mean solving plenty of leftover problems regarding migrant workers with her Thai counterparts, he said.

The Myanmar delegation will sign pacts of cooperation covering migrant workers, employment and border crossings to improve the working conditions and living standards of millions of Myanmar workers in Thailand.

Suu Kyi’s government took the issue of migrant workers as a national priority and put it into the context of relations with Thailand, Dulyapak said.

More than 1.4 million migrants from Myanmar legally live and work in Thailand, but it is estimated that millions more are illegal and receive poor treatment at the hands of employers and Thai authorities.

Suu Kyi will visit thousands of Myanmar workers in the seafood centre of Mahachai today to show she cares for them as well as to inform them about the latest developments at home after her government assumed office in April. She had gone there once in 2012 when she was in the country for the World Economic Forum.

However, the urgent issue for Suu Kyi is the plight of the hundreds of Rohingya refugees detained in Thailand for illegal entry after taking the dangerous boat trip across the Indian Ocean years ago.

Suu Kyi, who insists on referring to them as “people who believe in Islam” rather than Rohingya, as they wish to be called, is under pressure and there remains no clear solution on how to deal with the Muslim minority at home, Dulyapak said.

A group of social workers in Thailand called upon the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and democracy icon to address the Rohingya issue properly during her visit.

However, authorities forced two groups – the Coalition on the Rights of Refugees, and Stateless Persons and Asylum Access Thailand – to cancel their planned press conference today, citing security reasons. The press conference was aimed at drawing Suu Kyi‘s attention to the plight of the Rohingya.

This visit is a great opportunity for people from Myanmar to draw to Suu Kyi‘s attention the struggle of the Rohingya, who have for generations considered Myanmar as their homeland, the group said. Access to Myanmar nationality and basic rights have been denied to them, they added.

For decades, thousands of Rohingya have been forced to flee their homeland to become workers or victims of human trafficking in neighbouring countries including Thailand, they said.

A government official said the Rohingya issue would not be on the table during the meeting betweenSuu Kyi and Prayut.

A plan for her to visit refugees in Ratchaburi’s Ban Tham Hin on Saturday was cancelled due to bad weather, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee.

Thousands of Rohingya fled from difficulties in the western state of Rakhine after poor treatment and communal conflict with majority Buddhists.

Their journey ended up in prison as illegal migrants in many countries in Southeast Asia, including Thailand.

CDC reviews charter trainees in wake of criticism

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Piyaporn Wongruang,
Jakrawan Salaytoo
The Nation
June 23, 2016 1:00 am

The Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) has reviewed progress concerning its training programme on the dissemination of the charter draft content for its volunteers nationwide, after receiving some negative feedback about the process.

CDC spokesperson Chartchai na Chiangmai told The Nation that the content dissemination sub-panel had reported progress to a meeting of the commission yesterday.

However, he downplayed the negative responses, saying the emerging problems were minor and “could be fixed”.

They involve technical errors, including broken projectors or poor speakers at some training venues, as well as some lack of understanding of the content among the trainees, which he said was “understandable” because it was quite complicated in some places.

The spokesperson said that while the programme overall had been running smoothly, one foreseeable issue which could arise after the training was to what extent the trainees could reach the targets. This is because, in the end, only four Kru Khor, or Teacher C, would be dispatched per community, some of which can comprise as many as 1,000 households. was to what extent the trainees could cover

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“There’s not too much to be fixed I think,” Chartchai said. “We just need to support and boost each others’ morale to get the job done.”

The CDC came up with the training programme shortly after it completed drafting the charter in late March.

The programme is aimed at training volunteers to disseminate draft charter content to the public at the provincial, district and community levels.

The volunteers are known as Kru Kor (Teacher A, province based), Kru Khoh (Teacher B, district based),Kru Kor (Teacher A, provincial based), Kru Khoh (Teacher B, district based), and Kru Kor Kru Khor (Teacher C, community based), with the latter meeting voters in person to explain the charter content before they vote in the August 7 referendum.

There have been reports in some areas that some trainees’ knowledge did not meet expectations, raising fears about how well they will be able to inform voters about the charter.

The training is set to be completed by the end of this week, before the volunteers start being dispatched on their dissemination task.

Meanwhile, leading human-rights advocates held a seminar at Thammasat University yesterday, analysing the degree of freedom of expression ahead of the referendum.

The group included the Union for Civil Rights and Liberty, the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, and the iLaw group.

They focused on the problematic issue of the implementation of clause 2 of Article 61 in the referendum law, arguing that it was infringing people’s right to have a say in the charter draft, and possibly also violated the interim charter, which guaranteed such rights.

Jon Ungphakorn, director of the iLaw group, said he believed clause 2 violated Article 4 of the interim constitution, which guaranteed people’s rights and liberty.

Jon and other figures from the group had earlier submitted a petition with the Ombudsman calling for nullification of the clause, and the Ombudsman has forwarded the issue to the Constitutional Court for a ruling.

“If the court ruled that clause 2 was unconstitutional, people would enjoy freedom to express views on the charter draft and it would make the referendum procedure fair,” he added.

Jon said that while the government was restricting the rights of charter opponents, it was also spending taxpayers’ money to train charter draft specialists to disseminate information that touched on only the strengths of the draft.

“It is like a campaign to make people accept the draft, but draft opponents cannot launch a campaign as they risk being sent to jail,” he stressed.

Sriprapa Petmesri, lecturer at the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, said she believed campaigns for or against the draft should be allowed.

“We often hear that the country is not in a normal circumstance, and that is why rights are restricted. But is there an attempt to create abnormal circumstances,” she said.

 

Court to rule on controversial clause next week

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The Nation June 23, 2016 1:00 am
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The Constitutional Court has set next Wednesday as the date for a ruling on whether the second clause of Article 61 of the referendum law can be considered unconstitutional.

The Ombudsman’s Office had submitted the case to the court, seeking a ruling as to whether the clause violates Article 4 of the interim charter’s guarantee of freedom of expression. This was after a group of human-rights advocates and scholars petitioned it to look into the issue.

The clause in question prohibits the dissemination of untrue, provocative, vulgar and aggressive messages through print and electronic media or other channels that could incite unrest.

The court said it would rule on the case next Wednesday after it has heard testimonies from all concerned agencies.

If ruled unconstitutional, the clause would be removed, and some advocates believe this would give way to freedom of expression ahead of the referendum.

How blockchain will change your world

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BURNING ISSUE

Nophakhun Limsamarnphun
The Nation June 22, 2016 1:00 am

The Bank of Thailand, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory bodies are closely watching the development of the blockchain database and other financial technology as the country joins the rest of world in promoting fintech and other start-ups.

Blockchain, which led to the creation of digital currency Bitcoin, has been described IBM executive Robert Morris as a set of distributed ledgers with a majority consensus verifying the records.

The result is cheaper, faster and more reliable records that are more difficult to corrupt or change.

The technology is useful and has the potential to replace the current Swift system in which Bangladesh’s central bank recently lost $81 million to attackers after the central bank’s system access was compromised.

Swift is currently the world’s predominant fund-transfer system, operated by about 3,000 financial institutions around the globe.

Blockchain, however, also has many other applications that promise smarter transactions in the financial sphere and elsewhere.

Blockchains can be used along the entire length of supply chains to ensure sufficient verification and thus prevent fraud. Banking, stock trading, insurance, shipping and virtually any other transaction of values will be more efficient and secure. This, in turn, opens up new opportunities for businesses and industries.

First, according to IBM, blockchain services will help create and manage networks that power a new category of distributed ledger applications. These applications can access existing transactions to support new payment, settlement, supply chain and other business processes.

Second, Internet of Things data will be enabled on blockchain via devices such as WiFi location-tracking, barcode-scan events and device-reported data. These devices can then communicate with blockchain-based ledgers to update or validate smart contracts.

This could be applied, for example, in the movement of an Internet-connected package along multiple distribution points.

In other words, the technology will likely change the entire global logistics business.

In developing new blockchain applications, IBM has also worked with the London Stock Exchange to improve management of risks and increase transparency in global financial markets.

In Thailand, both the central bank and the SEC are preparing measures to facilitate and regulate the coming wave of fin-tech start-ups, such as those planning to offer peer-to-peer lending, crowd-funding and other new forms of financial and related services.

These start-ups have the potential to change the landscape of financial services in the Thai market and become new competitors to existing services provided by banks and other financial institutions.

For example, a peer-to-peer lending service may compete against existing automobile-leasing services as social media offer up a group of potential lenders to someone who wants funds to buy a new car.

Rather than applying for an auto loan with a traditional leasing firm, the person may go to social media and apply for a peer-to-peer loan on a reputable start-up platform which can digitally link, say, 10 potential lenders with the car buyer who’s requesting a loan.

This new way of getting and providing car loans may be available shortly as regulators forge a new set of rules and regulations for the digital economy.

Nophakhun@nationgroup.com

Prayut open to UN offer of help on restoration of democracy

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UNITED NATIONS

WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION June 22, 2016 1:00 am
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But refuses to discuss outside monitors of referendum on new charter draft

PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday welcomed the United Nation’s offer to help Thailand to return to the democratic path following his phone conversation on Monday with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

According to the latest statement from UN headquarters in New York, Ban reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to support Thailand during this critical juncture to facilitate a swift return to democracy.

“Referring to reports about restrictions on the freedoms of expression, opinion and assembly ahead of the August 7 referendum on the draft constitution, the secretary-general stressed that an open and inclusive debate would be essential to ensuring the legitimacy of the constitution and achieving national unity,” it said.

But Prayut was reluctant to discuss this yesterday. Asked about a possible move by the UN to monitor the referendum in August, he said: “I don’t answer an ‘if’ question.”

Earlier, the red-shirt United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) said they would petition the UN and the European Union in coming days to monitor voting in the referendum.

The red shirts spoke after meeting with the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bangkok about the junta’s suppression of different voices on the referendum.

A few hours earlier, Prayut made the phone call to Ban and then informed the public of their conversation.

Prayut said he would send officials to talk to the UN about the UDD move.

“You should oust those lawbreakers, not us,” he said grudgingly. “That would be the best solution.”

Deputy Premier Prawit Wongsuwan said the UDD should work with the Election Commission if they want to monitor the vote on the charter.

“The public should not be worried. We will carry out the referendum in a straightforward manner,” he said.

“The red shirts could join the EC because they need people to participate in the process. In fact, only the five commissioners of the EC are not enough.

“However, there is no need for others to monitor the referendum. In fact, the people are the ones observing the whole referendum process,” he said.

The government’s move – to shut the UDD’s planned anti-fraud centres – was in accordance with the law, he added, even though red-shirt leaders said they would resubmit a petition for the government to review the move ahead of the referendum.

Opposition to Article 61

In a related development, several academics and rights groups issued a statement yesterday calling for the removal of clause two in Article 61 of the Referendum Act, saying it would ensure fairness in the August 7 vote.

The statement was signed by six academics and three rights groups: the Union for Civil Right and Liberty, the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies and ilaw, that petitioned the Ombudsman to seek a ruling from the Constitutional Court on whether the clause in the law was unconstitutional.

“We believe that the August 7 public referendum will not be carried out with justice if clause 2 of Article 61 of the Referendum Act and the Election Commission’s announcement on May 2 are in effect,” the statement said.

Clause 2 of the referendum law bans dissemination of messages that are vulgar, false and inciting.

The EC’s May 2 announcement, the group said, restricted the rights of charter draft opponents to present their views because the EC regarded such action as a campaign against the charter draft.

EC sets timeslots on TV for disseminating draft charter content

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CHARTER

THE NATION June 22, 2016 1:00 am
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The Election Commission yesterday set new timeslots for both state and non-state channels to disseminate draft charter content.

The announcement, published yesterday in the Royal Gazette, would see state channels disseminate the content for 30 minutes every Monday and Wednesday from June 27 to August 6 from 5.30pm.

Non-state channels, including private, community and cable, have been given a choice between broadcasting the program at the same time as state channels or re-run it later between 6.30pm and midnight or between 6am and noon the following day.

The decree went into effect immediately after being published in the Royal Gazette.

PM to discuss return of refugees with Suu Kyi

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THAI-MYANMAR RELATIONS

WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION June 22, 2016 1:00 am

Myanmar state counsellor expected to raise issue but ‘Rohing ya’ not on agenda

THE REPATRIATION of more than 100,000 Myanmar refugees who have been sheltered in border provinces for decades will be discussed when Aung San Suu Kyi meets Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday.

Suu Kyi, who is both state counsellor and foreign minister, will arrive in Bangkok on Thursday to strengthen bilateral ties with her Thai counterparts and discuss a wide range of issues including migrant workers and refugees.

According to deputy government spokesperson Maj-General Werachon Sukondhapatipak, Thailand has always been eager to return refugees back to Myanmar, but has been faced with legal and technical restraints.

The idea of repatriating refugees who fled civil war and political conflict since the mid-1980s has existed among Thai security |agencies for a long time, but little could be done due to the ongoing fighting and political problems in Myanmar.

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The previous government led by Thein Sein had a clear policy to take them back, but only after peace could be maintained. Thein Sein’s administration managed to sign a ceasefire pact eight armed ethnic groups, but many remained outside the peace process and armed struggles have continued.

The new government, which took power in April after winning the November elections, has yet to come up with a policy on the fate of Myanmar refugees in Thailand.

Obstacles to repatriation

On the Thai side, meanwhile, Werachon said the nationality proving procedure and endorsement of identity documents were the key obstacles in repatriating Myanmar refugees.

However, he said, Suu Kyi is bound to raise this issue with Prayut as she known for her fight for human rights.

Thailand has sheltered 105,261 refugees in nine camps in four border provinces from Mae Hong Son in the North to Ratchaburi province.

Suu Kyi is scheduled to visit a camp at Ban Tham Hin in Ratchaburi province on Saturday – the last day in her three-day visit.

However, the plight of Rohingya refugees appears unlikely to be raised when Suu Kyi meets Prayut on Friday. Hundreds of Rohingya were detained in Thailand after taking |dangerous trips down the Bay of Bengal from Myanmar’s western Rakhine State.

Most were escaping bad treatment from local authorities and attacks by the majority Buddhist population.

A United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights has said that long-standing violations of Rohingya people’s rights could be considered a crime against humanity.

Prayut, meanwhile, chose to say little when asked if he would discuss the refugee situation, especially that of the Muslim Rohingya |people, with Suu Kyi.

“It’s their [Myanmar’s] domestic and sensitive issue. Don’t bother them much about it,” he said referring to the Rohingya crisis.

The Thai authorities have also been known for its poor treatment and unlawful detention of the Rohingya people.

 

Yingluck calls for reconciliation and chides junta on her 49th birthday

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THE NATION June 22, 2016 1:00 am
Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, accompanied by her husband and son Anusorn, third from left, and Supasek Amornchat, make merit on her 49th birthday at her home on Soi Yothinpattana 3 .

Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, accompanied by her husband and son Anusorn, third from left, and Supasek Amornchat, make merit on her 49th birthday at her home on Soi Yothinpattana 3 .

IN a birthday statement, former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday expressed wishes that the country will move forward towards democracy and people will be happy and healthy.

The former premier, who turned 49 yesterday, made merit on her birthday with her husband Anusorn Amornchat and her son Supasek Amornchat at her home on Soi Yothinpattana 3.

Yingluck said the current economic situation was not healthy and she wanted to ask the government to issue policies that stimulate the economy and make people wealthier.

She said she wanted the junta to prevent political conflicts from escalating and urged conflicting sides to try to reconcile.

“I want to call for a more open and inclusive debate during the campaign for the referendum on the charter draft,” she added.

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Her brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, sent her a bouquet of flowers as a birthday gift.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, meanwhile, was coy when asked about Yingluck yesterday. “I am personally not her foe,” he said. “She’s already happy and healthy on her birthday. She’s much younger than me. Aren’t you worried about me?”

Prayut ousted Yingluck from the PM’s post during the 2014 coup after claiming that her government failed to properly administer the country.

Since then, the Prayut-led regime has launched a criminal lawsuit against the former premier, for alleged negligence in her oversight of the former government’s notorious rice-pledging scheme.

Yingluck has been closely watched by officials for moves deemed to have a political motive, such as field trips to visit supporters and distribution of New Year calendars decorated with photos of her and her brother, the fugitive ex-PM.