Regional News

Thailand’s Popular Protests Have Nothing To Do With Democracy

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra

BANGKOK – On Monday, after weeks of mass demonstrations in Bangkok calling for her resignation, the prime minister dissolved Parliament and announced early elections to be held in February.

Yet despite the concessions, demonstrations continued, with protest leaders demanding Yingluck cede power within 24 hours to a “people’s council,” an ambiguous governing body made up of appointed “good people.” Yingluck ignored the ultimatum, reaffirming that she would not step down and pleaded with protesters to clear the streets and participate in elections. But those pleas have fallen on deaf ears, and on Thursday, the country’s aggressive protest movement went so far as to cut power to Yingluck’s office.

And therein lies the truth about Thailand’s popular demonstrations: The end game for the protests was never a more responsive political process. The rallies, which were organized by opposition Democrat Party leaders and drew thousands out to the streets to oppose what they describe as the corruption of the Yingluck government, have almost nothing to do with democracy and everything to do with seizing power by any means necessary.

The political stalemate is only the latest confrontation between Thailand’s Democratic Party, led by former Prime Minster Abhisit Vejjajiva, and those loyal to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. In August 2008, two years after being deposed in a 2006 military coup, Thaksin left Thailand while facing corruption charges — he was later found guilty in absentia and sentenced to two years in jail.

His flight and the dissolution of the pro-Thaksin People Power Party by the Constitutional Court laid the groundwork for violent clashes between his supporters, known as Red Shirts, and security forces in 2010. Mass demonstrations forced the governing Democratic Party coalition, led by Vejjajiva, to dissolve parliament and call early elections. The next year, Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, became Thailand’s first female Prime Minister after her Pheu Thai Party, which succeeded the People Power Party, won the majority of parliamentary seats in the 2011 elections. While Yingluck may have the title, Thaksin is thought to be highly influential in determining the policies of her administration. A New York Times profile from earlier this year of the exiled Thaksin described him as governing the country by Skype.

Political affiliations in Thailand are largely defined by demographics. Thaksin, a billionaire turned politician, is an unlikely populist hero, yet he enjoys widespread support from poor, rural communities in the country’s north. In contrast, Democrat voters tend to be upper and middle-class urban elites and southerners. And it is these demographics that explain the fundamental crisis facing Vejjajiva’s party: They don’t have a viable constituency to win at the polls.

The demonstrations seem to be following a familiar script: A Thaksin-supported administration has been voted in only to be challenged by institutions backed by political elites. We saw it in 2006 when the military took power in a coup d’état. We saw it in 2008 when the Constitutional Court disbanded Thaksin’s People Power Power. And we are seeing it again now in Bangkok’s energetic protesters.

The Democrat Party has not won an election in almost 20 years. And after Yingluck’s Pheu Thai Party trounced them in the 2011 elections, it’s not surprising that Democrat Party leaders are less than bullish on the prospect of another vote. “We cannot beat them,” Theptai Seanapong, a Democrat member of parliament, told the New York Times. “It doesn’t matter if we raise our hands and feet in parliamentary votes, we will never win.”

“This is an anti-democratic movement that wants to remove an elected government,” Pavin Chachavalpongpun of Kyoto University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies told Foreign Policy. “Their aim is to make it ungovernable and hope for military intervention. Because the Democrat Party can’t win in an election.”

With protesters still massing in the streets and Yingluck unwilling to cede power to an unelected governing body, many are questioning whether the military will indeed intervene. There is certainly precedent for it. The country has seen 18 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. While protest leaders have consistently called for the generals to pick sides, so far the military has been careful to keep its distance.

“The military learned important lessons from the 2006 coup and deadly crackdown on protesters in 2010,” Pavin said. “They will be cautious after being condemned previously by the international community.

But the military isn’t solely worried about the response from international actors, according to Pavin. “If the military initiated a coup, Red Shirts would come out in full force to defend the government.” The Red Shirts have already signaled their willingness to mass in support of the Yingluck administration — on Wednesday, one of the movement’s leaders announced Red Shirt supporters would rally in provinces surrounding Bangkok if anti-government protesters kept up their demands for a “People’s Council.”

The generals did little to clear up their intentions on Thursday. After first rebuffing protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban’s request for a meeting, the armed forces issued a statement late in the day saying they had invited Suthep to join military leaders at a seminar on Saturday. The goal of the seminar, according to the statement, was “to find a way out for Thailand.”

While the military seems content to appear to play the mediator, some believe they have taken a more active role behind the scenes. According to an op-ed in the Bangkok Post Thursday, many Pheu Thai loyalists believe Suthep has the discreet backing of the military. The piece cites rumors that Suthep already met with top generals two days ago.

“I do think it’s possible that the military is behind this,” Pavin told FP.

Even if the military stays on the sidelines, the prospects for a viable political settlement seem bleak. Yingluck has made it clear that she will not step down. And given the electoral math, opposition leaders won’t accept a new vote. “The dissolving of parliament is not our aim,” Suthep told Reuters.

So for now, anti-government protesters will stay on the streets, waiting to see if Thailand’s military will hand them the government that they cannot take at the ballot box.
By – Jake Scobey-Thal

Regional News

Thai Immigration Police Detain Over 26,000 Illegal Migrant Workers

Thailand’s Immigration Police have detained approximately 26,000 illegal migrant workers from Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia during an eight-day operation in Bangkok and surrounding regions, according to a Royal Thai Police spokesperson.

Mr Adisorn Keudmeuangkhon of the Bangkok-based Migrant Working Group said the drive was in response to an increasing number of concerns about an influx of illegal migrant labor.

“Some Thai people see that many illegal workers are competing for their job positions in the past few months,” he told me. “That’s why the ministry has to take tougher action.”

Civil strife in Myanmar and the recent implementation of a military conscription have driven thousands of Burmese into Thailand, while severe inflation and limited job opportunities in Laos have also encouraged an influx of workers from that country.

Between June 5 and 12, officials detained and checked 20,111 Myanmar laborers, 1,659 Laotian migrant workers, and 3,971 Cambodian workers, according to the Ministry of Labor.

It marked the start of a 120-day campaign to audit workplaces and arrest unlawful migrant workers, according to the government.

Migrant Workers to be Deported

According to Keudmeuangkhon, undocumented workers face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 Thai baht (US $136 to $1,365), deportation, and a two-year prohibition on re-entering Thailand.

Authorities did not intend to file criminal charges, he claimed.

Authorities raided 1,774 workplaces, according to Moe Gyo, chairman of the Joint Action Committee on Burmese Affairs, which advocates for Myanmar labor rights.

He stated that since the military junta activated conscription, there has been an upsurge in the number of arrests of Myanmar citizens in Thailand who do not have a work permit identity card.

All men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 must serve in the military for at least two years. The first group of 5,000 conscripts summoned by Myanmar’s junta will start duty at the end of this month, military sources told AFP on Monday.

According to Keudmeuangkhon, the bulk of Lao migrant workers in Thailand work as fresh market shopkeepers, restaurant servers, and mall salespeople.

Most people visit Thailand as part of ASEAN’s visa-free policy for tourists, but they stay longer than the 30-day restriction once they find job.

“Employers like to hire Lao migrant workers in the service sector because they can speak fluent Thai,” he told me.

Immigration Police Detain Illegal Migrant Workers

The Thai Cabinet may approve an enhanced program for Thai employers to register their unauthorized foreign workers in July or August. Keudmeuangkhon explained.

Last month, the Thai Ministry of Labor’s Foreign Workers Administration office announced that 268,465 Lao migrant workers were officially working in Thailand.

Baykham Kattiya, Lao Minister of Labor, told Radio Free Asia earlier this month that there are 415,956 migrant workers in other nations, the majority of whom work in Thailand.

According to her, the Lao government believes that over 203,000 persons working outside of the nation lack proper work documents.

However, a Lao official familiar with the labor industry informed Radio Free Asia, a BenarNews-affiliated news station, on June 20 that the number of illegal Lao migrant workers in Thailand and abroad is likely significantly greater.

“They go to other countries as illegal migrant workers through different types of methods – as tourists or students,” said the politician. “Thus, it is hard for the immigration police to collect data on these people.”

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

News

High School Student Dies After Being Electrocuted By School Water Dispenser

14-year-old boy was electrocuted by a water dispenser: File Image

Thailand’s Office of Basic Education Commission has initiated an investigation into the electrocution of a 14-year-old student by a water dispenser in a high school. The event happened at noon on Friday, during the high school’s sports day. The victim was a Grade 8 student.

According to local media in Trang Province, the incident occurred when a teacher instructed the pupil to turn off a water dispenser amid a heavy rain.

According to a witness, the child collapsed while strolling with his friend near a water station. The friend claimed he attempted to assist but was also shocked by electricity.

According to reports, the friend then recovered, left the site, and requested assistance from teachers. A teacher ran to the scene and used a towel to pull the boy away by the ankle. He was taken to the hospital, but it was too late, they claimed.

The event sparked criticism from parents and netizens over school safety, as well as the slow response to aid the young youngster.

Mr. Chainarong Changrua, head of Trang-Krabi’s Secondary Educational Service Area Office, told local media on Sunday that forensic officers from Trang Provincial Police had visited the area. They discovered the blown breaker switch behind the water dispenser, he explained.

The breaker was burned out, thus the authorities assumed the disaster was caused by a short circuit that allowed energy to spill to a neighboring power pole. The student also appeared wet and was not wearing shoes when electrocuted.

According to the Office of Basic Education Commission, a probe team will complete its investigation this week.

The student’s father, Mr Pornchai Thepsuwan, 53, claimed he was saddened when he saw his son’s body. The boy (Wayu), was the youngest of two boys, he explained. He stated that following the tragedy, the school director and staff gave financial assistance to the families.

Mr Pornchai also said he would not seek charges against the institution because he believed it was an accident.

Electrical accidents in Thailand

Electrocution instances in Thailand have increased alarmingly in recent years. Many mishaps occur as a result of improper wiring and inadequate maintenance of electrical systems.

Public locations, such as schools and markets, frequently lack adequate safety precautions, putting individuals in danger. In rural areas, antiquated infrastructure exacerbates the situation, resulting in more frequent and serious events.

Although several high-profile cases have brought these challenges to light, genuine progress has been gradual. Furthermore, the rainy season heightens the likelihood of electrical accidents, as water and exposed wires do not mix well.

The government has made steps to strengthen safety standards, but enforcement is patchy. More education on electrical safety could help to reduce these accidents.

Unfortunately, better infrastructure and tougher rules may have prevented many of these incidents. The loss and injuries caused by electrocution are avoidable, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

News

Thailand’s Tourist Police Crackdown on Tourist Scammers in Pattaya

Tourist Police Pattaya: File Image

Thailand’s Tourist Police said it is collaborating with embassies from five countries to combat tourist scams and ten criminal gangs in Pattaya. The Tourist Police Bureau, convened a meeting on Thursday Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am told a press briefing.

Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am, the Tourist Police bureau commissioner said the participants included ambassadors from South Korea, Ukraine, Russia, India, and Switzerland.

He told the briefing the he had ordered a crackdown on tourist frauds, such as fraudulent or low-quality tour operators and unfair sales of goods and services. Stepped-up operations began on June 19 and will continue until June 25.

He stated that the agency was working with numerous organisations to increase tourists’ confidence in visiting Pattaya.

Gen Saksira spent time on the famed Walking Street speaking with officers on duty and assigned them to seek for members of ten criminal groups known to operate in Pattaya.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will visit Chon Buri on Saturday to assess the tourism situation. He intends to visit the site of a future Formula One racecourse near Khao Phra Tamnak in Bang Lamung District.

Prime Minister Srettha recently met with Formula One organisers in Italy to examine the potential of including Thailand on the race schedule in the future.

On Sunday, the Prime Minister will pay a visit to Rayong’s U-tapao airport to discuss development on the airport’s land, with the goal of encouraging investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor.

Police Chief Reinstated

In other police news, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has been reinstated as national police chief following the conclusion of an investigation into a highly publicised quarrel, according to Wissanu Krea-ngam, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s counsellor.

Mr Wissanu released the investigation’s findings on Thursday, after the prime minister formed a fact-finding committee chaired by Chatchai Promlert to investigate into the quarrel between Pol Gen Torsak and his deputy, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.

The four-month study revealed conflicts and disorder at all levels of the Royal Thai Police, but it was unclear whether these issues arose from a single cause or several causes, according to Mr Wissanu.

The findings revealed that both Pol Gen Torsak and Pol Gen Surachate were involved, with each team contributing to the tensions, he noted.

Mr Wissanu indicated that Pol Gen Surachate was reinstated as deputy national police head on 18 April following his relocation to the Prime Minister’s Office on 20 March. A disciplinary committee was formed to investigate Pol Gen Surachate, and he was ordered temporarily suspended from the police force.

Because there were no further difficulties to explore, it was decided to restore Pol Gen Torsak. He plans to retire on September 30.

On March 20, Mr Srettha abruptly transferred both top police officers to the Prime Minister’s Office in an effort to address the growing schism within the police service.

Kitrat Panphet, Deputy National Police Chief, was subsequently named Acting Police Chief. According to sources, Pol Gen Surachate could face money laundering charges related to online gaming networks.

Source: Bangkok Post