Regional News

Asia’s Newest Strongman: Thailand’s Prime Minister General Prayuth

Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha

BANGKOK – As a boy, he was handsome and always picked up litter off the street. Today, he is a tireless public servant, collecting a pittance of $12.50 per day as he leads a nation of millions.

He takes no holidays. He takes no guff. He recently tried his hand at songwriting and, on his first-ever attempt, penned an instant radio hit.

Is this North Korea’s Kim Jong Un?

Nope. This is Prayuth Chan-ocha, the new supreme leader of Thailand — according to fawning media portrayals and his own public sermons.

Prayuth is a 60-year-old army chief with a bulldog expression. Ever since he seized power in May, a largely servile Thai media has praised him in absurdly glowing tones. One newspaper even declared that, as a child, he was the “best looking boy in the class.”

Failure to kowtow is risky. Under martial law, criticizing Prime Minsiter General Prayuth Chan-ocha is punishable by detention.

Following Thailand’s shift, there is no longer a nation left on Southeast Asia’s mainland (which includes Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) where citizens get to freely choose their leaders. Every single one of the region’s ruling political parties first came to power either through communist revolution or army coup.

In a twist of fate, Myanmar, until recently regarded as a despotic backwater, has the best shot of breaking out of the authoritarian club. Its elections are slated for next year.

Meanwhile, Thailand is controlled by a handpicked 32-person council largely composed of generals. Many are former classmates. Only two are women. All are loyal to Prayuth.

Prayuth insists he was forced to overthrow Thailand’s democratic system because it had descended into chaos. One of his fellow junta chieftains, Lt. Gen. Chatchalerm Chalermsukh, insists their putsch saved Thailand from “turning into Libya or Syria.”

Thailand was indeed dysfunctional prior to the coup. Starting in late 2013, right-wing protest mobs were storming Bangkok’s government offices, sabotaging elections and seizing major thoroughfares.

Those hyper-conservative protesters were, in fact, agitating for an overthrow. They created the chaos needed to justify the takeover, the 12th successful coup since Thailand ended direct rule by kings in the 1930s. The protesters’ stated goal is the same as Prayuth’s: creating “true democracy” through authoritarian rule, a confounding notion that is popular among the Thai urban elite.

But Prayuth isn’t satisfied with overhauling the political order. He is also fixated on restoring Thailand to an imagined era when virtue and order ruled the day.

That’s the theme of his song “Return Happiness to Thailand,” released shortly after the coup. It’s now played incessantly on Thailand’s largest radio and TV networks, which the military just happens to own. “We’ll do as we promised,” goes the chorus. “We just need a little more time. Then our beautiful land will return once more.”

Each week, Prayuth gives televised sermons in a “father knows best” tone that instruct Thais on proper moral behavior.

He’s concerned about littering: “Whenever I drive around and see garbage, I’ll stop my car, collect the litter and find a place to toss it.”

And kids these days: “They don’t have enough time for housework.”

And retail therapy: “People get in a bad mood and say, ‘Let’s go shopping.’ Well, you can’t repair your happiness by going shopping … it’s dangerous!”

And sleazy tourists: “Foreigners shouldn’t think they can come to Thailand and do illegal things like you see portrayed in movies.”

Much of Prayuth’s rhetoric offers an overly simple narrative that pits the good people against the bad people, who are criminally minded and corrupt. He’s launched a wave of crackdowns on low-level miscreants: beach town mafiosos, teen motorbike gangs and even jaywalkers.

But he’s yet to focus on the military, an institution that has managed to jack up its funding to $6 billion in the past 10 years. After the coup, it upped its budget another 5 percent.

The Thai military’s budget is now roughly equal to the entire GDP of Kosovo. As in Egypt, its top officers comprise a business elite. Many of its generals sit on the boards of profitable Thai corporations, which benefit from their protection. Yet, under martial law, they cannot be properly scrutinized.

Thais can only guess at the wealth of their new military rulers. An “anti-corruption” agency that reports to the junta has stated the generals are not required to divulge how rich they are. Prayuth — who claims to only collect a $12.50 per diem — has not yet disclosed his assets.

“I want everyone’s trust,” Prayuth said in a speech last week. “So if still you’re suspicious of me, I want you to go back and listen to my song.” – By Patrick Winn

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