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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011149

Voters flocked to polling stations in Chumphon’s Constituency 1 and Songkhla’s Constituency 6 on Sunday to cast their ballot for a new MP.

The by-elections are being held to find replacements for Democrat veterans, Chumpol Julsai and Thaworn Senneam, who were stripped of their MP status over their roles in protests that led to the 2014 coup.

In a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19, all polling stations have implemented strict prevention measures including providing hand-sanitising gel, checking body temperature and ensuring everyone wears a facemask.

Songkhla’s election director Klong Rueangsang said inspectors have been instructed to monitor the situation closely as the by-election is being closely fought.

He expects 80 per cent of the 128,518 registered voters to cast their ballot, especially in Sadao district where up to 70,357 voters live.

Meanwhile, Election Commission chief Itthiporn Boonprakong said he expects more than 77 per cent of voters in Chumphon’s Constituency 1 to exercise their right. He added that people who need to report to work have the right to seek time off to cast their ballot.

Related stories:

• Unofficial results of Chumphon, Songkhla by-elections expected by 10pm
• Aspiring MPs vie for votes ahead of crucial Bangkok by-election
• Thai opposition to grill ‘shaky’ govt over business woes, pandemic

Published : January 16, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011146

The unofficial results of a by-election in Chumphon and Songkhla should be released by around 10pm on Sunday, Election Commission (EC) chairman Itthiporn Boonprakong said while overseeing ballot preparations in Chumphon on Saturday.

He said every sector was cooperating on tightening measures to prevent election fraud.

The by-elections are being held in Chumphon’s Constituency 1 and Songkhla’s Constituency 6 to find replacements for Democrat veterans Chumpol Julsai and Thaworn Senneam, who were stripped of their MP status.

“Chumphon’s governor has instructed officials to refrain from violating election laws, while the chief of police in Chumphon has set up checkpoints,” he said.

“Once the ballot box closes at 5pm [on Sunday], officials at the polling station will check and start counting votes.”

He expects the votes to be counted by 7pm and an official result released by 10pm.

Itthiporn went to say that though there are no complaints related to the by-election in Chumphon, the EC is reviewing grievances filed against ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) secretary-general Thammanat Prompao’s speech in Songkhla.

Move Forward Party candidate Thiwach Damkaew has accused Thammanat of promising to give money to people in trouble in his campaign speech. Thammanat was campaigning for PPRP candidate Anukul Prueksanusakthe.

The EC chief said election inspectors and police officers have not reported any cases of vote-buying yet and warned voters and candidates to avoid violating election laws.

“If people see any signs of vote-buying, they can inform the EC or report via the ‘Ta Sapparot’ [pineapple eyes] smartphone app so the commission can take action. Witnesses will be protected and given an award,” he said.

Itthiporn added that the Supreme Court is scheduled to look into vote-buying allegations against PPRP MP Wattana Sittiwang in Lampang.

Related stories:

• Aspiring MPs vie for votes ahead of crucial Bangkok by-election
• Thai opposition to grill ‘shaky’ govt over business woes, pandemic
• Cabinet greenlights Bangkok byelection to replace Sira Jenjaka

Published : January 16, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011141

Candidates hit the campaign trail in Bangkok on Saturday ahead of a crucial by-election that will offer clues to the road ahead for Thailand’s beleaguered coalition government.

Hopefuls targeting the January 30 poll in Bangkok’s Constituency 9 voiced confidence in winning the seat.

Businesswoman Saranrat Jenjaka, who represents the ruling Palang Pracharath Party, canvassed door-to-door in many communities in Lak Si district. Accompanying her was Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, a senior party figure.

Saranrat said she was “100 per cent confident” of winning the by-election, given strong support pledged by local voters. Contributions she had made to local communities would help her cause, she added.

“These are evident for the local residents. So, I have no worries at all about the competition,” Saranrat said.

Chaiwut was also confident Saranrat had strong backing, citing her popularity among the Bangkok electorate and the ruling party’s development projects in the area.

Saranrat is wife to the constituency’s former MP, Sira Jenjaka. Sira lost his parliamentary status last month after the Constitutional Court ruled that his 1995 fraud conviction meant he had been unqualified to contest the March 2019 general election. The Constitution bars anyone with a criminal conviction from standing for election to the House of Representatives. The ruling against Sira left the seat empty, triggering the need for a by-election.

Opposition Pheu Thai candidate Surachart Thienthong met with locals at Tha Sai Flea Market in Lak Si district. He was joined on the campaign trail by party leader Cholnan Srikaew.

Surachart, who is a former MP for this constituency, urged local voters to turnout in force.

“Your pure force will be the deciding factor and best deterrent against electoral fraud,” he said.

Cholnan said his party’s candidate wanted to hear from locals about their problems. Judging from the positive response from voters, he expressed confidence that Surachart would “win the people’s trust”.

Elsewhere in the constituency, Kla Party secretary-general Attawit Suwannapakdee campaigned for votes in Muang Thong Thani and Chaeng Wattana.

Attawit, who co-founded Kla with former finance minister Korn Chatkavanij, said his party was focusing on economics as well as flood and water-related issues in the constituency. He said he had received “very good responses” from locals during his two weeks of campaigning.

Attawit dismissed perceptions that Kla is merely a “branch” of the coalition government’s Democrat Party.

The Democrats opted not to field a candidate, citing the “political etiquette” against competing to fill a seat lost by a fellow bloc member.

Attawit also urged the Election Commission to combat vote-buying and campaign for a high voter turnout.

Eight candidates are contesting for the vacant MP seat in the January 30 by-election.

The coalition government is facing pressure over its handling of the pandemic and economic crisis, with a general election scheduled for next year.

Published : January 15, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011108

The opposition will launch an urgent debate to grill the government on issues ranging from Covid-19, economic woes, and “rifts” in the administration, the Pheu Thai party said on Friday.

Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said it will invoke a clause of the Constitution allowing an urgent debate on national issues, though it would not include a no-confidence vote.

Under Article 152 of the Constitution, a motion signed by at least 10 per cent of MPs can trigger a general debate to inquire about facts or recommend actions.

Cholnan said Pheu Thai will hold a meeting with smaller opposition parties on Tuesday (January 19) to discuss the debate, which is expected to be held on January 21.

Cholnan said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s coalition government was shaky because the ruling Palang Pracharath was not the largest party in terms of MPs. Pheu Thai won 136 seats at the 2019 election while Palang Pracharat won 116.

Cholnan accused Palang Pracharath of “stealing” the majority by bringing smaller parties into the coalition, resulting in instability. He said the coalition is now paying the price of its narrow majority as coalition partners squabble for personal gain, signalling rifts in the government. Such turmoil in the administration in time of national crisis damaged the public interest, so the opposition would discuss the issue in the House, he added.

Published : January 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011075

The Ayutthaya Provincial Court also extended pro-democracy activist Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul’s bail indefinitely on Thursday afternoon.

She was accused of violating the law by leading a protest in the province without permission. The Ayutthaya court had previously granted her bail until Thursday and was scheduled to review the bail conditions.

On Thursday, the court stated that Panusaya had fully complied with the bail conditions and was eligible to be temporarily released indefinitely.

The court also approved the removal of the electronic monitoring (EM) bracelet she had to wear, saying she was not under home arrest anymore.

On Wednesday, the South Bangkok Criminal Court granted her bail for leading a protest against the lese majeste law outside Bangkok’s Siam Paragon shopping mall on December 20.

Panusaya and other anti-establishment activists had worn “crop tops” in symbolic defiance of the Criminal Code’s Article 112. Under this case, Panusaya was granted bail until May 25 this year. The South Bangkok Court’s ruling has her wearing an EM bracelet and she is only allowed to leave home between 6am and 6pm.

Earlier on Thursday, the Criminal Court extended Panusaya’s bail until June 16 in another case related to allegedly illegal demonstrations in Bangkok’s Sanam Luang area in September 2020. The court also approved the removal of her EM bracelet.

Her lawyer, Kritsadang Nutjaras said he would call on the South Bangkok Court to reconsider its order to have Panusaya continue wearing the EM bracelet in relation to the December 20 protest.

Panusaya is scheduled to appear in the South Bangkok Court again on February 8 to enter her petition.

Published : January 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011052

The chairman of the Thailand Veterinary Dean Consortium had informed the government last month about the discovery of African Swine Flu (ASF) in the kingdom, contrary to claims by the Livestock Development Department.

Assoc Prof Dr Kongsak Thiangtham, chairman of the consortium, said it had alerted the department in December of the existence of the virus.

Kongsak said the virus was detected in pork samples in a service office on Kasetsart University’s Kamphaeng Saen campus.

On Monday, Livestock Development Department director-general Sorawit Thanito claimed he had not seen any letter of alert from the consortium on the ASF virus.

However, a day later, on Tuesday, Sorawit told the media that the virus was detected in a sample collected from a slaughterhouse in Nakhon Pathom. He claimed the virus was just detected so his department had informed the World Organisation for Animal Health.

The ASF issue has turned political after public outcry over a drastic increase in pork prices. Some small-time pig farmers claimed that many of their pigs have died of ASF, affecting pork supplies and thus resulting in higher prices.

On Tuesday, the opposition Pheu Thai made public what it called was strong evidence of a cover-up of ASF in the country.

The Pheu Thai noted that the government made ASF a national agenda in April 2019 but it failed to take proper action to prevent the virus from spreading. Instead, the Pheu Thai alleged, the government attempted to cover up the finding of the virus.

Wisut Chainarun, chairman of Pheu Thai MPs, showed the media a copy of a letter from the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to the Cabinet Secretariat, which he said proved that the government knew that ASF was spreading since 2019.

He alleged that the government was alerted to suspicious deaths involving pigs in 2019 and the government had been paying compensation to farmers for culling their pigs since 2020.

Published : January 13, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011044

The Criminal Court on Thursday extended the temporary release of student activist Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul until June 16 so she can complete her studies.

The court ordered the student at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology to report to officials every 30 days.

She is also required to be present in court again at 10am for the court to decide whether to extend her bail.

Panusaya and other activists were accused of defaming and expressing malicious intent against the monarchy during their rallies at Sanam Luang on September 19 and 20, 2020.

The court granted her temporary release from November 30 to January 12 so she could continue her studies and sit for her exams.

She was released on five conditions, including a requirement that she should not join any more protests and must wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.

In its decision on Thursday, the court noted that Panusaya did not violate any of the conditions during her bail period.

The court acknowledged her need to remain outside the remand prison to study for the second semester of her fourth year and to carry out research so she could graduate.

Panusaya promised the court she would strictly observe the conditions.

Among other things, Panusaya said she would not join any political activity that would affect the monarchy and would not leave the kingdom, the court said.

Furthermore, Prof Dr Boonlert Wisertpreecha of her faculty promised the court that he would ensure she does not violate her bail conditions.

The court approved her release by requiring her to place assets worth 200,000 baht as a guarantee. The court also ordered the removal of her EM bracelet.

Panusaya said she hoped other political and student activists who have been remanded because of protests against the government would be granted bail soon.

On Wednesday, the Criminal Court granted her bail in a case in which she and other activists protested against the Criminal Code Article 112 at Siam Paragon shopping mall on December 20. Panusaya and other activists wore “crop top” T-shirts in criticism of the article, also called the lese majesty law. In this case, Panusaya is free temporarily until May 25.

She has another legal case against her for allegedly organising a protest in Ayutthaya last year. The Ayutthaya Court is scheduled to announce later on Thursday its decision on her request for bail.

Published : January 13, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011042

Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has denied he had ever demeaned the AstraZeneca vaccine.

In a letter to Nation TV clarifying his vaccination at Phra Samut Chedi Hospital in Samut Prakan, Thanathorn alleged that the TV channel had misreported him as having demeaned the AZ vaccine but still receiving it.

Nation TV is part of Nation Multimedia Group, which also owns The Nation Thailand website.

Nation TV’s website (nationtv.tv) on Thursday published Thanathorn’s clarification.

In the clarification, Thanathorn said he had never questioned the quality of AZ vaccines but he questioned the government’s decision to acquire Sinovac vaccines, which he felt was of low quality in protecting the public against Covid-19.

Thanathorn insisted that although Nation TV quoted some members of society claiming he had criticised the quality of AZ vaccines, the TV channel should allow him to clarify the issue.

Thanathorn also mentioned in his letter that he had always campaigned for the people to receive vaccines against Covid-19. He said the Nation TV report was inaccurate when it quoted some people as having said that he failed to talk positively about the AZ vaccine although he eventually got vaccinated with the very same vaccine, locally produced by Siam Bioscience.

Thanathorn said the report was a repetition of false news stating that he demeaned vaccines and encouraged people not to be vaccinated.

The party leader also attached a link from a social media platform showing he had actually campaigned for Thais to get vaccinated.

Thanathorn also denied the Nation TV report which said he had his staff contact the hospital via a respected person in Samut Prakan to get vaccinated as a “VIP”.

He said he would never seek such privileged treatment.

Thanathorn called on Nation TV to show evidence behind the report. If the channel failed to come up with the evidence, it must issue an apology and delete that part of the report, he said.

In the same post on the website, Nation TV explained that Thanathorn was referring to its website report, which was presented separately from Thanathorn’s clarification.

Nation TV said that after it received Thanathorn’s explanation, it also published his statement in another report. The TV station said the two posts were not made at the same time because the information was obtained at different times.

The channel said that when it reported about Thanathon’s vaccination in its evening news TV programme, it also presented his clarification along with quotes of people who had questioned him.

Nation TV insisted that it did not say Thanathorn had demeaned vaccines or campaigned against vaccination but it simply presented a background of information on why society raised questions about Thanathorn’s vaccination.

The channel added that it had clearly stated in its website report that information about Thanathon’s vaccination at the hospital came from three sources – a former staffer of the hospital, an active staff member and a provincial public health official.

The former staffer had worked at the hospital when Thanathorn was administered the vaccine, Nation TV pointed out.

The TV station also made it clear that it had to protect the identity of its sources.

Published : January 13, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010963

Opposition party Pheu Thai on Tuesday threatened the prime minister and agriculture minister with a no-confidence motion after African Swine Fever (ASF) was detected at a Nakhon Pathom slaughterhouse.

Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew held a press conference to allege the government had covered up an outbreak of ASF.

Cholnan claimed the cover-up had allowed the disease to spread, resulting in a pork shortage and soaring prices.
The government had on Monday denied that ASF was the main cause of pig deaths, insisting the virus had not been detected in Thailand.
Cholnan voiced suspicion that the government had concealed the outbreak so that small-time farmers would be wiped out at the benefit of large corporate pig producers.
He said Pheu Thai would file a demand for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Agriculture Minister Chalermchai Sri-on to answer questions on the ASF situation.
If the two failed to offer satisfactory clarifications, the opposition would seek a no-confidence motion against them, he added.
Cholnan said the government knew about the outbreak last year, as proved by a July 5 letter sent by the Agriculture Ministry to the Cabinet seeking budget funds to fight the spread. He said the Cabinet secretary replied on July 9 that the budget would be approved.

Separately, the Cabinet on Tuesday approved a budget of Bt574.11 million to compensate farmers whose pigs were culled to contain an outbreak of disease last year.
The compensation was drawn from the 2022 central budget.
The money will be used to compensate 4,941 farmers after 159,453 pigs were culled in 56 provinces from March 23 to October 15 last year, a government spokesman said.
The Cabinet also instructed livestock officials to take urgent action to prevent another outbreak after a sample from a Nakhon Pathom slaughterhouse tested positive for ASF on Tuesday.

Published : January 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010842

Thailand’s proposed draft bill to regulate non-governmental organisations has been condemned by over 1,800 NGOs and unions as a draconian infringement on basic rights and freedoms.

In a joint statement on Friday they accused the government of seeking to control and intimidate people who form NGOs to help others.
Signatories of the joint statement included Impulse Bangkok, Non-Binary Thailand, P-Move, WeMove, the Campaign for Democracy, Bangkok Rainbow, Transportation for All, the Sisters Foundation (Pattaya), HealthNet, and the HIV Foundation Asia.
The Cabinet on January 4 resolved to have the Social Development and Human Security Ministry draft a bill to regulate NGO activities on grounds that some had ulterior motives, lack good governance or may be involved in money laundering. The bill’s sponsors claim NGOs need to be regulated for the sake of national security and order.

The joint statement dismissed the claim as a pretext to restrict people’s rights and freedoms.
It said the government had ignored NGOs’ reasoned arguments against the draft legislation.
“The bill would hinder people’s freedom to form groups, to join public demonstrations, and to express and access public information,” the joint statement said.
It would also empower government agencies to bypass courts and halt NGO activities on the pretext of endangering national security, it added.
It said current and past constitutions guaranteed people’s right to form civil-society groups for the nation’s development, striking a balance with the power of government agencies and business.
The bill was also superfluous since laws were already in place to deal with foundations, associations and organisations, it added.
This demonstrated the government’s totalitarian motive to control the public sector and deter democratic progress and universal human rights, the joint statement continued.
It said groups were not opposed to being monitored for transparency but were opposed to legislation that seeks to control civil society with ulterior motives.
The statement said the signatories would take action to show their strong opposition to the bill.

Published : January 07, 2022