Category Archives: politics

Single standard needed as Thai media threatens ethical suicide

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ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Single-standard-needed-as-Thai-media-threatens-eth-30286805.html

BURNING ISSUE

PIYAPORN WONGRUANG May 27, 2016 1:00 am

Last week, a gunshot awoke Thai society to evidence not only of poor governance and fraud in college education, but also a new low in the ethical standards of Thai media.

On that Thursday afternoon, a university lecturer struggled over his next step after having reportedly killed two fellow academics. He seemed torn between surrendering to police surrounding his hideout in the heart of Bangkok, and taking a more drastic option. After almost six hours of negotiations, during which the gun in his hand was frequently lifted to his temple, the lecturer made the latter choice and ended his life with a single shot.

During those hours of teetering between life and death, the public learned not only the story behind his crime – curriculum fraud and unfair treatment – but also of the depths that Thai media were willing to sink to.

Several television channels cleared their schedules to cover the drama live. The graphic nature of the coverage prompted the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to issue an urgent and unprecedented notice, demanding that the outlets abide by broadcasting law and cease telecasting the scenes of heightened threat and impending deadly violence.

There has been less focus on the fact that the coverage was yet another gross intrusion by the Thai media into the personal arena and, as such, violated not just the law but also journalistic ethical standards.

The drama’s denouement was mercifully off-camera, but a TV crew at the scene was caught on tape muttering, “Damn, we missed the shot!”

The legal ramifications along with the public resentment that immediately flooded the social media prompted some media organisations to call emergency meetings in a bid to stave off criticism and tighten codes of conduct.

The five major media organisations, including the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, proposed during a meeting that the joint standard for news reporting they had drafted be used for their future operations.

Meanwhile, the NBTC is working on forging a similar code for TV operators.

There’s no denying that the live broadcast of last week’s suicide drama saw Thai media plunge to a new depth of sordid sensationalism that has damaged their credibility in the eyes of the public. That credibility now desperately needs to be shored up if public faith in the media is to be restored.

This is hardly the first time that Thai media have crossed the line. Widespread dismay and disgust caused by the media’s invasion of privacy in its coverage of the funeral of a young star recently has still not been addressed.

Last week’s violation should be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

With some media outlets apparently in ethical free-fall, we can no longer afford to stand by and wait for them to self-correct. The collective media conscience must step in and press for the new standard of journalistic behaviour to be applied in order to safeguard public order and peace.

pypostbox@yahoo.com

Myanmar army chief meets with Prayut

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ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Myanmar-army-chief-meets-with-Prayut-30286806.html

THE NATION May 27, 2016 1:00 am

THAILAND IS ready to work with the new government of Myanmar and expand cooperation in all aspects, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday told Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s armed forces.

The Myanmar general is in Bangkok for a three-day official visit ending today at the invitation of Thailand’s Armed Forces.

Prayut told the general that the two countries’ armies would cooperate more closely particularly on security and border development issues. The prime minister added that he was glad that senior officials of both countries met regularly to develop relations and cooperate for the benefit of people.

Min Aung Hlaing is the most senior Myanmar official to visit Thailand since the new government took power after the general election in November.

The new government is led by President Htin Kyaw and his close ally, Foreign Minister Aung SanSuu Kyi .

Prayut also said the visit demonstrated close and longstanding ties between both armies and the countries, and encouraged expanded cooperation on issues related to the economy and labour force.

Min Aung Hlaing said Htin Kyaw had asked him to give his best wishes to Prayut, adding that Myanmar was ready to continue cooperative efforts.

Min Aung Hlaing also paid a visit to Thai Privy Council President Gen Prem Tinsulanonda before attending a dinner hosted by Thai Defence Forces Chief General Sommai Kaotira and his wife.

During the trip, the delegation visited the office of Thai Beverage, a Thai conglomerate that owns a sizeable stake in Singapore’s Fraser & Neave. Last year, F&N was forced to relinquish its 55 per cent in Myanmar Brewery, which is majority owned by Myanmar Economic Holdings (MEHL) – one of two major conglomerates run by the Myanmar military.

A revolution for public participation? Don’t hold your breath

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ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/A-revolution-for-public-participation-Dont-hold-yo-30286695.html

BURNING ISSUE

Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Nation May 26, 2016 1:00 am

A high-level proposal to allow citizens to participate in the implementation of public policy has offered hope to advocates of participatory democracy.

The National Reform Steering Assembly’s administrative reform committee has proposed issuing the new law as part of national reforms.

If passed, the proposed law would give citizens greater power to monitor the implementation of policies by state agencies.

Thawilwadee Bureekul, research director from King Prajadhipok’s Institute and a member of the administrative reform committee, said the law could help guarantee genuine public participation in state policies and projects at every level.

She said the principle had been adopted in the 1997 and 2007 constitutions, as well as in the latest draft charter. However, no legislation had been passed to ensure it was put into practice, she added.

Thawilwadee is convinced that the civil sector has a better chance of success in pushing for the law now, under the current post-coup government, than it would under the elected administration to come.

Thawilwadee and other researchers proposed a similar law two years after the 1997 constitution was promulgated. The 1997 charter required public hearings for projects that would impact the environment, public health and quality of life. But the proposed law needed for implementation of that policy was never passed.

As a result, Thailand witnessed a slew of disputes, as controversial government projects pitched state agencies against affected communities and civil groups. Despite many attempts to push for a law to allow public participation, no success was achieved. The previous attempt came underYingluck Shinawatra’s administration, when a civil group managed to gather more than 10,000 signatures for the cause. But before the House of Representatives could deliberate on the proposed legislation, it was dissolved amid political unrest.

In the latest proposal from the NRSA’s panel, state agencies would be required to support public participation in all stages of policy implementation. State agencies would have to provide sufficient information on projects to the communities affected, listen to locals’ views, and allow them to scrutinise the implementation. The consultation could even result in policy being changed or rescinded.

In formulating policies, state agencies would be required to heed views aired at public hearings, and they would have to provide remedial and rehabilitation plans in case of adverse impacts.

That would mean state agencies having to heed the people’s voice before, during and after the implementation of policies.

The proposed law would see the launch of a 19-member committee, to be headed by the prime minister or a deputy, to support the new role for citizens. It would also detail penalties for public officials who failed to abide by the law or the orders of the committee.

Many NRSA members have hailed the move as a “revolution in the process of public participation” and an important mechanism to boost participatory democracy. However, others have warned that such a law would end up obstructing implementation of government policies and threaten government projects with delays.

The assembly voted in support of the report that proposed the legislation. The report will now be submitted to the Cabinet, which will decide whether to forward it to the National Legislative Assembly where it could be voted into law.

It’s too early to say whether Thai democracy is about to be given a boost, or whether the proposal that citizens play a greater role will join other reform ideas that have been shelved and forgotten.

Much will also depend on whether the post-coup government accedes to this “revolution” in public participation that could pave the way for a future of participatory democracy.

Warrant out for Kwanchai after he skips court verdict

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ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Warrant-out-for-Kwanchai-after-he-skips-court-verd-30286701.html

THE NATION
UDON THANI May 26, 2016 1:00 am

Kwanchai

Kwanchai

Red-shirt leader’s wife unaware of his whereabouts.

THE UDON THANI Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant yesterday for red-shirt leader Kwanchai Sarakham after he failed to show up to hear a Supreme Court verdict on a case in which he is accused of colluding in attempted murder and physical assault.

The case stems from an assault on a yellow-shirt gathering at a park in Udon Thani in July 2008. A group of yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy filed the case against the defendant, who is also known as Kwanchai Praipana.

The court has scheduled the next reading of the verdict on June 28.

The court said an arrest warrant has been issued because Kwanchai failed to inform the court that he would not show up and did not seek to postpone the hearing. The bond for his bail release will also be confiscated, the court said.

In December 2011, the Criminal Court found Kwanchai guilty and sentenced him to four years in jail. The penalty was reduced to two years and eight months and he was fined Bt350,000 after he admitted to the crime.

The Appeals Court a year later upheld the lower court’s verdict and released Kwanchai on a bail of Bt500,000.

Kwanchai’s wife Arporn, his son Korawi and lawyers, as well as some 20 supporters showed up at the Udon Thani Provincial Court yesterday morning.

His wife said she did not know of Kwanchai’s whereabouts and that she had last met him on May 19 in Bangkok.

“He told me that he wanted some time to meditate and come to terms with this matter,” she said, adding that she has not spoken to him since.

Arporn added that if she is able to reach him again, she will tell him to attend the next hearing.

“He should consider what we talked about… what will be, will be,” she said.

Charoen Mukachornpan, a yellow-shirt leader affiliated with the PAD, said yesterday that he respected the court’s decision to give Kwanchai another chance by rescheduling the Supreme Court verdict, adding that he will be present at the next session.

Kwanchai, 63, had declared last month that he would not escape and would accept the court verdict, even if it means he will end up in prison.

He was last seen in public on April 28 at an event in Udon Thani that was attended by leaders of the rivalling red and yellow-shirt camps. At the event, held to encourage reconciliation, leaders of both sides held each other’s hands in a symbolic gesture.

EC denies referendum law violates charter

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ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/EC-denies-referendum-law-violates-charter-30286704.html

CHANIKARN PHUMHIRAN,
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION May 26, 2016 1:00 am

The Hindu deity Hanuman is being used as a mascot for the charter referendum campaign, as the monkey god |represents this year’s Chinese zodiac but also symbolises progress. The Election Commission, which yesterday kicked off the campaign, says voters exe

The Hindu deity Hanuman is being used as a mascot for the charter referendum campaign, as the monkey god |represents this year’s Chinese zodiac but also symbolises progress. The Election Commission, which yesterday kicked off the campaign, says voters exe

ELECTION Commission (EC) President Supachai Somcharoen said yesterday that he believes the referendum laws clauses prohibiting the spreading of false, rude, provocative or intimidating anti-draft charter messages did not violate the interim charter as claimed by a group of scholars.

He reasoned the law had been carefully crafted by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and that it should not pose a problem. If the Ombudsman considers otherwise, then it would be up to the Constitutional Court to decide, he added.

This development came as the Ombudsman agreed to look into the scholars’ petition asking if Article 61 of the recently implemented referendum law contradicted the charter, which guarantees freedom of expression.

Supachai added that the EC’s legal department was preparing an explanation letter, which will be submitted to the Ombudsman by next week.

The EC yesterday also resolved to have six leading state TV stations, namely channels 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and ThaiPBS, broadcast constitution-and-referendum-related shows from 5.30pm to 6pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. The 19 other digital television channels could either link up with the broadcast of the six channels or rerun the shows between 6.30pm and 10.30pm on the same day, Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said yesterday after meeting with representatives of the television channels.

The EC had previously proposed that the broadcast be fixed at 6.20pm to 6.50pm, but the digital TV association asked the agency to revise its plan. They reasoned that some viewers would miss the show if it is run on all channels simultaneously.

The programme is expected to be comprised of 13 episodes and be broadcast from June 27 onwards. Somchai said the channels were free to produce the content as they saw appropriate, adding that they should not be afraid that the content will violate the law.

For instance, he said, they could have both supporters and opponents get together to discuss the draft charter.

“Programmes [concerning the charter and the referendum] already being broadcast are very intense,” he said.

He also warned that producers should ensure the programme does not contain any false, rude or provocative messages. Some charter drafters will also be featured in the series, he said.

The EC yesterday launched an official event to kick off the referendum, which is scheduled to be held on August 7. The first batch of 100,000 packages of the charter draft has been sent to the NLA and Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) for initial dissemination. Some 900,000 other copies will be ready for distribution to households by late next month. Each package comprises the full version of the draft, two summaries, plus an explanation of the additional question added to the referendum by the NLA.

Separately, the EC has come up with songs campaigning for the referendum, which will be sung in regional dialects by popular artists Liew Ajareeya, Kong Huayrai, Paowalee and Bao Wee. The songs call on voters to exercise their rights and not fall prey to those trying to influence their vote.

Another gimmick featured in this year’s referendum is the Hindu deity Hanuman, which is supposed to symbolise an independent mind that will help lead the country towards improvement. Supachai said the agency was expecting an 80-per-cent turnout at the referendum.

Meanwhile, CDC chief Meechai Ruchupan said the commission would distribute the charter’s copies to its “teachers A and B” first. The CDC is also gathering cases concerning the distortion of facts of the charter and has already forwarded some to the EC for consideration.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, meanwhile, said the government was interested in holding a forum for dialogues like the one organised by the EC for political parties last week. He said he was pleased by the friendly atmosphere generated by the forum.

He also said the red-shirt movement can set up anti-fraud units in relation to the referendum, but they have to take care they don’t violate the law themselves or they too could face charges.

Prayut dismisses complaints against Meechai, Sansern over referendum

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ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Prayut-dismisses-complaints-against-Meechai-Sanser-30286643.html

WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION May 25, 2016 1:00 am

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha watches a demonstration of a robot arm designed to assist patients with |neuromuscular diseases. The robot arm will be displayed at Digital Thailand 2016, organised by the Information and Communication Technology M

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha watches a demonstration of a robot arm designed to assist patients with |neuromuscular diseases. The robot arm will be displayed at Digital Thailand 2016, organised by the Information and Communication Technology M

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday played down worries about the chief charter drafter and the senior government spokesman after allegations emerged that they had violated the referendum bill, saying it is “his business” to deal with the issue.


The Roi Et branch of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) filed the complaint with the provincial office of the Election Commission (EC).

The UDD group cited Meechai as saying that people should “take the next step forward” regarding the draft because it could not be changed at present, although at the same time he added that amendments might be possible in the future.

The group said Meechai broke Article 61 of the referendum law, which prohibits attempts to persuade people how to vote.

A similar complaint was also filed with the EC against Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd on the same day by a representative of the Islamic Public Schools Association.

The petition cited Sansern as saying this month that Prayut had ordered the Education Ministry to come up with laws ensuring free education from the first to 12th grade, while the charter draft stipulates that the state must provide free education only until the ninth grade.

The association said Sansern had distorted the charter draft to influence voters in contravention of Article 61.

However, Sansern denied the claim that he had distorted the draft charter’s content, adding that he had simply reported the prime minister’s orders delivered in a Cabinet meeting.

He said he would be willing to go to court over the case, but added that the Education Ministry should be the party that clarifies doubts about the issue.

Meanwhile, Prayut remained tight-lipped about the possible postponement of the general election tentatively scheduled for next year, which could be postponed if the chart draft is rejected in the referendum.

Prayut refused to answer questions about a possible postponement but Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Monday that the election would be rescheduled “not long after the original timeline” if the draft were rejected.

“Some agendas are about policies and planning that should not be revealed,” he said.

Prayut also insisted again that he would remain prime minister only until the next government is formed.

“But don’t say that we try to dump the referendum to stay longer. Isn’t it crazy to think like that?” he asked.

The military-led regime has so far refused to give a clear answer about its plans if the draft is rejected.

However, Prayut said he had instructed the deputy prime ministers to come up with plans for the third phase of reforms, which will become clear at the end of this month and run until next year.

Prayut added that he had emphasised the integration of concerned agencies, especially those that could help to resolve long-running conflicts within the country, which he said had not been satisfactorily resolved.

“Each side thinks very little about contributing to conflict resolution. They are deeply divided. I don’t know how we will live together if law fails to help solve the problem,” Prayut said, adding that integrated reforms were needed.