Category Archives: politics

Former Thaksin adviser Trairong dies at 67

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The Nation June 9, 2016 1:00 am
Trairong

Trairong

General Trairong Intharathat – a former adviser to Thaksin Shinawatra – died yesterday of heart failure. He was 67 years old.

The general, who was also known as chief-of-staff Ice, was pronounced dead at 7.17am at the Phra Mongkut Klao Hospital where was admitted on April 4.

Apart from holding several key military posts, including chief of staff for the Supreme Command and specialist for the Army, Trairong also served as security adviser for Thaksin when he was premier.

Royally-sponsored bathing rites will be held at Wat Soammanas at 3pm tomorrow, and praying rites will be held until June 16.

Ex-Agriculture minister, then-secretary get 6 years for bid rigging, malfeasance

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The Nation June 9, 2016 1:00 am

Former Agriculture Minister Chucheep Hansawat and his then-secretary Withaya Thienthong were yesterday sentenced to six years in jail for malfeasance and bid rigging in the procurement of fertiliser worth Bt300 million in 2002.

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders found both of them guilty of violating Article 157 of the Criminal Code and Article 17 of Offences Relating to the Submission of Bids to Government Act 1999.

The Attorney General filed a lawsuit on March 31, 2015, against Chucheep 72, who was once an executive of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, and Withaya Thienthong, 75, a former Thai Rak Thai MP.

The Court said the defendants failed to check irregularities in the bidding even though the Agriculture Ministry’s permanent secretary had called on them to suspend the procurement and check corruption allegations.

 

Court accepts petition on Article 61 clause

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Court-accepts-petition-on-Article-61-clause-30287718.html

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THE NATION June 9, 2016 1:00 am
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The Constitutional Court yesterday accepted the Ombudsman’s petition seeking a ruling on the legality of the referendum law. The court has also asked for related documents from the Election Commission (EC) and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on the preamble and the reasons for the legislation of clause 2 of Article 61, within seven days.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, meanwhile, said that if the Constitutional Court ruled that clause 2 of Article 61 of the Referendum Act 2016 contradicts Article 4 of the 2014 interim charter, the clause can be exempted.

The clause states that propagation of information that is inconsistent with the truth, or can be deemed violent, aggressive, rude, inciting or threatening and aims to prevent voters from casting their ballot or influence their vote shall be seen as disrupting the voting process. This will be deemed a criminal offence and will be punishable by law.

Wissanu said there was no need to amend Article 61, as this law was only used for the referendum. He also rejected claims by the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship that the government had spent Bt10 billion, overshooting the Bt2.9 billion budget for the referendum. He said the spending for the referendum was still within the budget, which included the training for charter draft specialists.

NLA member Somchai Sawaengkarn also insisted that Article 61 was not in breach of the interim charter’s Article 4. He will be among those who will testify in court over the matter.

He said that the NLA, the Constitution Drafting Commission and the government had met political parties and activists last month to explain that the referendum law did not violate the interim charter.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party issued a statement calling on the government, the NCPO and related agencies to unconditionally return to people their right to express their opinion on the draft charter so the referendum could be free and fair and acceptable to all citizens and people of the civilised world.

The party said the Referendum Act empowers government and state officials to openly campaign or influence people into accepting the draft charter. These activities are funded by the taxpayers’ money, it pointed out. On the other hand, those who oppose the draft charter are not able to express their opinion in the same manner.

Election Commission member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn posted a message on Facebook warning people to not post messages that are vulgar or false to influence people’s referendum vote.

He said the EC was looking at a “vulgar” music clip that has been posted on Facebook. If the clip had been posted after April 23, then it would be a punishable offence because the referendum law had already taken effect by then, he said. He explained that if the clip was posted before April 23, the person who posted it would not be committing a crime, but anybody who had shared the clip thereafter may face legal action. The clip is also available on YouTube.

Those appearing in the clip are advised to report to police and say that they had no knowledge that it was in violation of the referendum act if it was done before April 23. If there are more than five people involved in posting the clip, they may be in violation of clause 4 of Article 61 of the referendum law.

Somchai said the EC was also considering action against the Neo Democracy movement, which has been selling T-shirts with the message “vote no”.

He added that the EC could not wait for a ruling from the Constitutional Court because, as long as the Referendum Act is in force, the EC must take action or it will be sued for negligence.

‘No need to ban poll song that ‘insults’ North, Northeast’

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/No-need-to-ban-poll-song-that-insults-North-Northe-30287719.html

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THE NATION June 9, 2016 1:00 am
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ELECTION COMMISSION (EC) chairman Supachai Somcharoen said yesterday that it was not necessary to suspend the song it has produced, despite criticism that it insulted people from the North and Northeast.

Supachai said opinions on the song, “Participate in August 7 Referendum”, were subjective and the lyrics were not inciting or intimidating as alleged.

The song had been slammed for carrying negative connotations, particularly towards some residents of the North.

Supachai said the EC would not stop publicising the song because it did not break any rules.

EC member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn also said he did not believe the song insulted anybody in any region of the country and there was no need to suspend it.

“Sometimes society overreacts and pays attention to non-essential things,” he said.

Somkid Chuakong, former Pheu Thai Party MP for Ubon Ratchathani, said the song cast people from the North and Northeast in a bad light as it described them as stupid and easy to persuade.

“The EC should respect people’s decision and I wonder if they are discriminating against people from the North and Northeast?” he asked, calling on the EC to review the lyrics since it caused ill-feeling among some people.

Part of the song’s lyric goes: “Isaan brothers, don’t let anyone dictate your decision. Use your judgement, look at content and important principles. Exercise your voting right, take responsibility for the country. Get to know yourself and others. Do not let others cheat you.”

Phra Sanyaluk Donsri, a noted composer who wrote the song, said he had no intention to look down on anyone. “Critics can interpret the song with discrimination or with political motivation,” he said.

Meanwhile, United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) co-leader Nattawut Saikua offered the EC another song on the referendum free of charge and would be shared on Facebooktoday.

“I believe this song would be useful as it touches upon people from diverse backgrounds,” he said.

In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the EC was cooperating with military units in different regions to hold public hearings to gather public opinion.

He said the public hearings would be similar to those held on May 19 to gather suggestions from politicians, adding that the first hearing would be held on June 11. He said that he would be present at the hearing, along with members of the Constitution Drafting Commission and the National Legislative Assembly.

He also said that the May 19 hearing with politicians was “unbelievably successful”.

“I had no prepared answers, because I did not know what they were going to ask,” he said.

When asked what the government would do if the draft charter failed the referendum, he said a new one would be written.

All UDD anti-fraud centres to open nationwide on June 19

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THE NATION June 9, 2016 1:00 am
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NATTAWUT SAIKUA, a key red-shirt figure, said yesterday that anti-fraud centres to scrutinise the referendum would open simultaneously across the country on June 19.

The centres, set up by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), are aimed at keeping an eye on any possible fraud ahead of the referendum. The first centre was opened in Bangkok on Sunday.

Nattawut, who is also a UDD co-leader, said all concerned parties should accept these anti-fraud centres because Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had said earlier that such watchdog centres could be set up.

In his weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Prayut had said that he would not stop UDD from setting up the centres, but added that they did not have his approval.

Nattawut said Prayut‘s remarks did not affect him because the premier had the right to criticise, adding that the draft’s victory in the referendum depended on the public, not the UDD.

He revealed that each local centre would have lawyers in charge of legal matters and voluntary observers. Everything done in these centres will be in line with the Referendum Act. In case the watchdog is accused by the state, with allegations backed by facts and evidence, then it would stand accountable, he added.

The red-shirt leader also called on state security officials to not put pressure on those involved in the operation of the anti-fraud centre.

Election Commission member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said creating a group to help keep an eye on possible fraud is a good thing, but EC regulations did not encourage people to take part in monitoring the referendum at polling stations. He said people could help monitor the referendum, but they should not interfere with official work or cause disturbances. Somchai pointed out that people could use the EC’s “Pineapple Eyes” app to report fraud.

Silicon Valley moguls are heading to Southeast Asia

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Silicon-Valley-moguls-are-heading-to-Southeast-Asi-30287611.html

BURNING ISSUE

Nophakhun Limsamarnphun
The Nation June 8, 2016 1:00 am

Venture capitalists from Silicon Valley in California are heading to Southeast Asia and India for a new round of investment in tech start-ups that are mushrooming thanks to the region’s youthful population and fast-growing number of Internet users.

According to AVCJ of Hong Kong, the first quarter this year saw a jump in start-up funds flowing into Singapore, the region’s start-up hub, to US$199 million, compared with just $53 million in the same period last year.

Indonesia attracted the largest share of funding, followed by Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

For Southeast Asia, the 10 countries grouped together in the Asean Economic Community (AEC) have a combined population of over 600 million while India’s current population is around 1.3 billion.

Previously, most venture capitalists flocked to China and India for start-up investments. In the first quarter of this year, China attracted $1.8 billion in funding, down 28 per cent from the same period last year, while funding for India’s start-ups dropped 17 per cent to about $730 million.

On the other hand, funding for the AEC’s start-ups has been growing rapidly. According to Google, Southeast Asia currently has the world’s highest growth rate of Internet users, with more than 120,000 new netizens added every day.

At present, AEC countries have a total of 260 million Internet users out of the combined population of 600 million.

The number of Internet users is projected to reach 480 million in the next four years, so there is tremendous growth potential for start-ups in the AEC as e-commerce, online media and other digital content look sat to dominate the regional economy.

Over the next decade, the value of digital economic activities in the AEC is projected to rise from the current $30 billion to around $200 billion per year.

However, there are a number of challenges facing tech start-ups in the region, including barriers of different languages, laws and regulations as well as diverse consumer preferences.

In addition, the region needs to catch up on developing an ecosystem conducive to nurturing start-ups, especially with regard to logistics for delivery of goods and services as well as for payment.

In Thailand, tech start-ups are seen as a new economic growth engine, but one lacking an ecosystem that would attract newcomers. Responsibility for building that ecosystem lies with the government and other stakeholders.

For instance, the Thai finance ministry is considering tax exemption on capital gains and dividends for venture capitalists and private equity trusts as well as individuals and companies who invest in venture capital and private equity funds.

In addition, state-owned Krung Thai bank and SME Bank will provide a combined Bt6 billion in seed money for investment in promising start-ups in addition to funding from overseas and domestic venture capitalists, private equity trusts, individuals and companies.

Some of the promising home-grown start-ups include the seven fin-tech, travel tech, logistics tech, and social-tech teams recently selected by the Dtac Accelerate programme.

These Thai start-ups attracted an initial combined investment worth Bt70 million from venture capital and private equity funds such as 500 Tuk-Tuk, Golden Gate Venture, KK Fund and Galaxy Fund, among others.

Fin-tech start-ups Piggipo and Finnomena promise to revolutionise online banking and financial services, while travel tech start-up Take Me Tour will leverage Thailand’s strength in the tourism industry by offering a new option for foreign visitors to experience local culture, attractions and way of life as part of the new “sharing” economy.

Nophakhun@nationgroup.com

We will wait for court’s ruling on Article 61: Prayut

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/We-will-wait-for-courts-ruling-on-Article-61-Prayu-30287645.html

NEW CHARTER

WASAMON AUDJARINT,
JAKRAWAN SALAYTOO
THE NATION June 8, 2016 1:00 am

Govt denies referendum in doubt as influential decision expected after scholars challenge law.

PRIME Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha insisted yesterday that the government would wait for a ruling by the Constitutional Court on a controversial part of the referendum law before considering any further action.

Prayut denied that the junta would cancel the referendum if the second paragraph of Article 61 had to be dropped.

“How could you have such a thought?” Prayut asked during his weekly news briefing. “The court will rule on the specific article. Don’t bring it up as an issue involving the whole act [law].”

Officials from the Ombudsman’s Office submitted a petition to the court on Monday seeking a ruling on whether the second part of Article 61 in the new referendum law violates Article 4 of the interim charter’s guarantee of freedom of expression.

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The move was prompted by a petition to the office by a group of scholars asking for the case to be forwarded to the court.

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

If the court rules against the section, the government and relevant agencies would be obliged to amend the law.

The red shirts, meanwhile, have also made a request to the court, asking it to decide within seven days whether to accept the agency’s petition for judicial review.

Prayut hit out at the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship for filing a petition to the court.

“Do they have rights to accelerate the court? I myself don’t even do that,” he said.

The government’s administrative team would be in charge if a conflict occurs during the referendum process, the prime minister said. However, he said, in regard to whether the Election Commission would continue the vote on the referendum in the event of a conflict arising, or not – both things were possible.

“But I won’t accept people using war [grade] weapons against one another,” he said.

The prime minister also refused to confirm the UDD’s claim that the EC’s referendum budget could be as high as Bt10 billion.

“I only said that the EC had been allocated Bt3 billion and I haven’t approved any further budget. Show me evidence if you’re saying otherwise,” Prayut said angrily.

Meanwhile, Constitutional Court Judge Charan Phakdhi-thanakul declined to disclose the court’s approach to making a judgement on the issue. It would be premature to comment and would contradict the arbitrator’s principle, he said.

However, the judge said the court always tried to be as quick as possible because every issue entering the court matters, and cited the notable quote “Justice delayed is justice denied.”

The director of iLaw, Jon Ungpakorn, who led the scholars’ petition, said the verdict should come this month because it involved rights and freedoms of the people and the court did not have other cases to look into.

Deputy prime ministers, meanwhile, echoed Prayut‘s remark on the impact of the ruling, saying the controversial clause, if annulled, would not invalidate the entire bill and the referendum would not be called off.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, also a key man in the military’s ruling National Council for Peace and Order, said the regime was still following its agenda and had not talked about cancelling the referendum, in response to politicians’ claims that the upcoming vote might not happen.

Given the current peaceful atmosphere, the referendum would be held according to plan, he said.

Prawit said NCPO executives would not interfere in the court’s decision on Article 61. It would depend solely on the court to rule, and the government had no other plans.

Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam said that however the court rules, the referendum planned for August 7 would not be affected. He said there were many chapters in the referendum law and they would remain, even if some clauses were nullified.

“Don’t get too excited. The government is not excited about this because it has no impact on the ballot,” Wissanu said. “Up until now, there was no need to amend or nullify anything. If the court rules that it’s unconstitutional, then only the embattled part becomes invalid.”

 

Call for poll T-shirts

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The Nation June 8, 2016 1:00 am

PRACHAMATI.ORG, an open online alternative space for public participation on issues linked to the constitution and referendum, has launched a T-shirt competition, calling for anyone interested to submit a screen design for T-shirts – both “Vote Yes” and “Vote No” in the referendum.

Jon Ungpakorn, the director of iLaw, linked to prachamati.org, said the aim of the competition was to promote expression of opinions about the constitution draft, so people would not be afraid of exercising their right of expression.

The winner would receive Bt4,000 in cash, while the first and the second runners-up would get Bt3,000 and Bt2,000 respectively.

UDD’s anti-fraud centre raises eyebrows

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/UDDs-anti-fraud-centre-raises-eyebrows-30287648.html

WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION June 8, 2016 1:00 am
Prayut

Prayut

THE NATIONAL Council for Peace and Order has taken no action against the centre that the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) set up to see if the August 7 referendum on the draft charter is marred by fraud, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.

However, he reiterated that he did not think the centre was acceptable.

The UDD’s anti-fraud centre will be monitored closely to see if it is violating the referendum law, National Security Council secretary-general Thawip Netniyom said yesterday.”It is OK if politicians make moves that are within the law. But if they break the law, then strict action will be taken to prevent disturbances. Officials who take no action will also face negligence charges,” Thawip said.

He did not rule out the possibility that an ill-intentioned third party would use the UDD anti-fraud centre as an excuse to create political turmoil.

Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda said he disapproved of the centre.

“They [the UDD] have clearly announced that they reject the draft charter. If they set up an anti-fraud centre, it should be neutral and not involve stakeholders. Even without considering the legitimacy issues, it is not fair at all,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-gnam said the Public Referendum Act did not ban the setting up of such centres, provided they do not break the law.

UDD co-leader Nattawut Saikua, however, questioned Prayut‘s rejection of the centre, asking what was illegal about it.

“As citizens with sovereign power, we have the right to set up such a centre,” he said.

He added that the centre would deploy staff to observe the voting at different polling booths.

“The Election Commission has the authority to decide over this, not the prime minister. If the EC does not want the public to observe the voting, the government should not deploy uniformed soldiers to man the polling booths,” he said.

Nattawut insisted that the centre was set up for the public’s benefit and was part of public participation in the referendum.

“We have no intention to confront anybody or step up our struggle,” he said.

Suu Kyi to visit migrants in Mahachai

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Suu-Kyi-to-visit-migrants-in-Mahachai-30287649.html

MYANMAR

WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION June 8, 2016 1:00 am
File Photo : Suu Kyi in Thailand.

File Photo : Suu Kyi in Thailand.

MYANMAR’S State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi will visit migrant workers in Mahachai again when she arrives in Thailand for an official visit this month.

The fate and well-being of millions of people from Myanmar who work in Thailand will be highlighted during her visit from June 23-25, Foreign Minister Don Pramuwinai said. Suu Kyi will visit a Myanmar community in Thailand but the location has not yet been fixed, he said.

However, Chiang Mai-based website The Irrawaddy reported that she would visit the fishing town of Mahachai in Samut Sakhon province, which is home to a large Myanmar migrant worker community.

“She will go and meet them in order to hear their experiences and the difficulties they are facing,” Myanmar Foreign Ministry director-general Kyaw Zeya was quoted as saying in regard to Suu Kyi‘s trip.

Suu Kyi met migrant workers from Myanmar in Mahachai during a visit in 2012 when she spoke at the World Economic Forum in Bangkok. She also visited Mae La refugee camp in Mae Sot.

About 120,000 refugees – mainly ethnic Karen and others who fled conflict and repression at home – have lived in border camps in Thailand for more than 30 years. Tens of thousands more have been resettled abroad.

Officials from both countries have discussed plans to repatriate them for years once conflicts with the military and government were settled. The previous administration headed by Thein Sein signed a ceasefire deal with eight groups last October but seven others refused to be part of it.

Some groups that signed the pact are still involved in conflict.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that this country would help Myanmar carry out national reconciliation by “not supporting” minority groups to fight the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Army).

He stressed that Thai assistance would be what has been requested by Nay Pyi Taw and not according to a Thai agenda. “They asked us, so we have to help them,” the PM said at his weekly news briefing. “We’re not poking our noses in their [Myanmar] affairs,” he said. “They have to operate their domestic things. Do you like when foreigners come to try to organise our conflicts and the referendum [process] in our country? Aren’t you ashamed of that?”

He denied any plan to negotiate with Suu Kyi on these matters. “I can’t negotiate. These affairs do not belong to my country,” he said.