Thailand Politics

Why Thailand Will Stay in the Third World

BANGKOK – Cambodia had a “fake” national ballot in June. Bangladesh held a “farcical poll” blighted by intimidation late last month. Thailand is worse. It can’t event hold a general election as planned.

All three are developing countries whose rogue leaders are not shy of showing the world that they will do whatever it takes, even to the point of disrespecting the rule of law, to hold on to power. What they have done (and are doing) represents a classic Third World problem.

Even if Thailand holds its poll on Feb 24 as the National Council for Peace and Order hinted earlier last month, it will not make the contest a free and fair one. This is because Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is expected to become the prime ministerial candidate of the pro-regime Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), at the helm of which are four of his own cabinet members.

During the past months, the PPRP has already achieved an impressive milestone in electioneering, thanks to the government’s many recent populist policies and cash handouts under the uncannily similarly named Pracha Rat scheme. At the same time, other parties had to ensure a political ban until last month while some politicians also face criminal lawsuits brought against them for criticizing the regime.

Notwithstanding such repressive and unfair practices, people still wanted the election to take place as scheduled, or at least by March 10. Delaying it merely prolongs the country’s military rule, something that many people have had enough of.

An election here may not be as overtly corrupt as that which manifested in Cambodia, where the ruling party launched brutal and illegitimate legislative attacks and lawsuits to keep the opposition party out of the contest. Nor would it be worse than the one in Bangladesh, where the ruling party of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is accused of tampering with the results.

Last month, the Thai electorate were assured that the roadmap was being followed to a poll that would pave the way to fixing our broken democracy, bringing back foreign investors and having a lower house that acts as little more than than a rubber stamp.

Some say that when you are happy, time flies without you noticing it. The regime appears to have been too busy enjoying being in power to notice that it has now been ruling the country for nearly half a decade — longer than the tenure of an elected government.

Given that Gen Prayut has broken his election promises several times, many no longer trust his words. So when his government suggested that the poll should be postponed for about a month to avoid calendar clashes between post-poll activities and arrangements and celebrations for the coronation ceremony of His Majesty the King, it’s hardly surprising that many assumed it was just another excuse to keep the regime in power.

If the country is to truly update itself to the 4.0 version the government seems so keen on, avoiding calendar clashes between long-expected events is the least we can expect. It does not require the postponement of the election, probably just a couple of government meetings.

If the government is incapable of planning ahead with any certainty, how can it be considered capable of administering the country?

Indeed, it is telling that the regime has not achieved anything substantial with regard to its reform and reconciliation agendas.

But the real issue lies beyond both its reluctance to let the country return to normalcy and its desire to be in power during the ceremony. The regime, through army chief Apirat Kongsompong, has lambasted pro-democracy activists who have taken to the streets to demand an election be held sooner rather than later and called them “troublemakers”.

After suggesting the poll delay to the Election Commission, the government has still not made clear when it will issue a decree to call for the election, a process that would allow the poll agency to officially set a date.

People are being willfully kept in the dark over the country’s political future. Who is the real troublemaker here?

With Gen Prayut currently touring the North this week, discrediting other political parties for their “empty policy promises”, one could not be blamed for suspecting that he and the PPRP itself may need more time to electioneer.

It has been said that Thailand will find it hard to become a developed nation. Rather, it will get stuck in the middle-income trap due to a number of factors such as income inequality, low education quality and an oligarchic political structure.

For me, another element that will keep Thailand trapped as a developing country is its tendency to make a non-issue an issue and a non-problem a problem.

Just take a look at the recent spat over the Bangkok Christian College’s “casual Tuesday” policy that allows its secondary students to dress down for a day each week.

Those who are against the policy cited all the usual rote reasons as to how uniforms have something to do with learning and teaching development.

Our teachers spend countless hours trying to ensure that students follow dress codes and other meaningless school rules and rituals when they should be using the time to improve standards in the classroom.

While the ruling regime continues to cite calendar clashes as a problem that requires a delay to our election, it only serves to remind us that the nation continues to wallow in its Third World status largely because our leaders are so bent on making mountains out of molehills to suit their political ends.

By Surasak Glahan
Deputy Op-ed Editor
The Bangkok Post

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Note: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of the Chiang Rai Times.

Thailand Politics

Thai Prime Minister’s Popularity Declines as Move Forward Party dominates

(CTN News) – Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin continues to make local and international visits to try to solve problems and promote Thailand, but he has failed to impress most voters, according to a Nida poll. The poll also revealed the declining popularity of Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the rise of the Move Forward Party.

According to a poll released on Sunday, only 12.85% of people supported the prime minister, down from 17.75% in the previous survey. The daughter of convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin, currently on parole, saw her popularity drop from 6% to 4.85%.

The National Institute of Development Administration conducts a quarterly survey of the public’s preferred political leaders. The last survey was released at the end of March.

According to the survey, supporters of the prime minister described Mr Srettha as a resolute decision-maker determined to address their problems. Ms Paetongtarn was complimented for her vision, leadership, knowledge, and grasp of the country’s difficulties.

This weekend, the prime minister will be in the northeast region listening to citizens’ concerns. The journey occurred only a few days after he had visited northern provinces earlier in the week.

Despite criticism, he has reduced his abroad trips, citing the need to showcase Thailand to investors and traders.

Pita Limjaroenrat, the chief advisor of the Move Forward Party, remained the top candidate for prime minister with 45.50% of the vote, up slightly from 42.75% in the previous quarter’s poll.

Pirapan Salirathavibhaga was the huge winner. The leader of the United Thai National Party saw his popularity nearly quadruple from 3.55% to 6.85%.

The sampled voters stated they appreciated Mr Pita’s political beliefs and thought he had broad knowledge. They praised Mr Pirapan’s credibility, claiming he was clean and honest.

Two other probable prime minister candidates were Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Thai Sang Thai Party and Anutin Chanvirakul, leader of Bhumjaithai. However, they were less popular than others.

About 20% of voters still did not believe any candidate was qualified to lead the country, which is the same percentage as in the last survey.

Move Forward Party was the most popular party with 49.20%, up slightly from three months ago, while Pheu Thai fell around five percentage points to 16.85% from 22.10%.

The poll, issued on Sunday, surveyed 2,000 ineligible voters between June 14 and June 18.

Thailand Politics

Move Forward Party MP Jirat Thongsuwan Appeals Suspended Jail Sentence for Defamation

(CTN News) – Jirat Thongsuwan, a Move Forward Party MP, says he would appeal his one-year suspended jail sentence for defaming a former senior defense ministry official concerning the state’s procurement of bogus bomb detectors.

The Criminal Court also fined Mr Jirat 100,000 baht for falsely accusing ACM Tharet Punsri, a former Air Force chief-of-staff who later became the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, of being the chairman and shareholder of a company that supplied the military with the infamous GT200 bomb detectors.

The Chachoengsao MP claimed a July 20, 2022, no-confidence vote against cabinet ministers in Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government. ACM Tharet was not a cabinet member.

Jirat Thongsuwan also identified ACM Tharet as a key figure in the 2006 coup headed by then-army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, which overthrew Thaksin Shinawatra.

ACM Tharet told the court that Jirat Thongsuwan’s charges were false and harmed his reputation. He denied involvement with the bomb detection company and said he was not the company’s senior chairman or shareholder.

In addition to the suspended jail term and fine, the court ordered Jirat Thongsuwan to pay $ 500,000 baht in damages to ACM Tharet and publish an apology in three newspapers for five days.

Jirat Thongsuwan later announced on his X account that he had challenged the verdict with the hashtag “An injustice is infuriating”.

The MP has also been accused of dodging required military conscription. He admitted to the accusation on May 8.

A British business promoted the GT200 as a “remote substance detector” and sold it in several countries. Between 2004 and 2009, fourteen Thai government organizations, most of which were military, were projected to spend 1.4 billion baht on the units.

Concerns about the GT200 and related gadgets arose after the National Science and Technology Development Agency discovered they lacked electronic components.

The devices were later revealed to be “divining rods”.

Thailand Politics

Thaksin Shinawatra Files 100 Million Baht Defamation Lawsuit Against Warong Dechgitvigrom

(CTN News) – Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister, has launched a defamation action against Warong Dechgitvigrom, the head of the Thai Pakdee Party, accusing him of paying a bribe to be released on bail in a lese majeste case.

Thaksin’s attorney, Winyat Chartmontree, filed a lawsuit against Warong, seeking 100 million baht in damages.

Warong, a long-time Thaksin Shinawatra critic, gave a public statement and posted on social media, saying that 2 billion baht was paid to judicial officials in exchange for release on bail in the lese majeste case.

Thaksin Shinawatra Granted Release on 500,000 Baht Bond

Thaksin was granted release on a 500,000 baht bond last week and told not to leave the country without court authorization after pleading innocent to charges of defaming King Rama IX in a 2015 interview with South Korean media.

Winyat stated that, while Warong did not identify Thaksin Shinawatra by name in his speech or post, he did include a hashtag with Thaksin’s name as well as the date Thaksin must appear in court, allowing readers to connect Thaksin to the allegations.

Winyat further stated that he was investigating the fact that Warong mentioned the specific aircraft and automobiles utilized by Thaksin Shinawatra to violate the Personal Data Protection Act.

“I have requested Mr Warong to provide proof as to where he received the data. “If it turns out that it came from state officials, there will be legal consequences,” he warned.

The Criminal Court has scheduled the case’s preliminary hearing for September 30.