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Political Restrictions Signal Bumpy Road for Return to Democracy in Thailand

 

BANGKOK – The Thai government under General Prayuth Chan-ocha has been promising elections since it took power in 2014, but this is the first time it has announced an official date. Photo: EPA

The Thai military junta this week announced that the country’s long-awaited elections will be held on February 24, 2019 – but while the government has lifted a ban on political activity, political parties and analysts say the measures are not enough to ensure the process will be democratic.

“Partially relaxing control over political parties is not enough to guarantee that elections will be free and fair,” said Sunai Pasuk, a Thailand-based researcher for Human Rights Watch.

Thailand has been run by a military government since the army seized power in a coup d’etat in May 2014. The government has been promising elections since it took power, but this is the first time it has announced an official date.

This is a period of change that it is important for the country

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha last Tuesday lifted restrictions including a controversial ban on political gatherings of five or more people as well as a rule preventing political parties from convening meetings without prior approval, holding political activities, or setting up party branches around the country.
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“This is a period of change that it is important for the country. People should contribute to choose the political parties,” his order said. “The people and political parties will be able to take part in political activities during this period leading up to the election in accordance with the constitution.”

However, many restrictions on freedom of speech will remain during the run-up to the polls, and people could be prosecuted under sedition, computer-related crime, and lese majeste laws if they are not lifted, Sunai said.

“Everyone will [still] be expected to think and act in the same direction that the junta wants them to do,” he said. According to Human Rights Watch, more than 100 pro-democracy activists have been prosecuted since the beginning of 2018 under those laws “for peaceful expression of their views”.

These include several key politicians, including the leader of the brand-new Future Forward Party, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, or top members of the main opposition party, Pheu Thai.

Political parties are also confused about what they are allowed to do under the new order. The government says they are now free to campaign for votes, but some politicians worry of being prosecuted if they launch their campaigns before the royal decree officially calling for the February 24 election is published on January 2.

“When this law is [published], then we can do anything we want for the elections. Now, we cannot”, said Chusak Sirinil, legal adviser for Pheu Thai. According to Chusak, there are “double standards”, and “the government can do whatever they want” to campaign, referring to a recent policy that saw it give 500 baht (US$15) to low-income people as a New Year’s gift.

Pheu Thai is now being investigated by the Election Commission regarding its ties to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, toppled in a coup in 2006, and could be dissolved if found guilty. Every party aligned with the ousted leader has won office since Thaksin became prime minister in 2001.
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Some of the potential candidates, including Chusak, will have to campaign with cases pending against them. Rangsiman Rome, a student activist who recently joined the Future Forward party, has eight cases against him, four of them in military courts, most of them for breaching the ban on political activities.

“It is still hard for me. Even if I campaign maybe tomorrow … and they cannot use the law [banning political gatherings] against me any more, they can use the past cases. So maybe I don’t have more freedom,” he said. The former activist also worries that, if found guilty, he would be immediately invalidated as a candidate.

Candidates will only be able to register their applications between January 14 and 18.

Some of the new parties are also facing problems with the registration process. The Commoner’s Party, for instance, has been trying to meet all the legal requirements since it was founded in March, when the junta allowed new political organisations to be formed. However, they have yet to receive confirmation from the Election Commission.

“We fear that the Election Commission will reject our registration,” said Chumaporn Taengkliang, deputy leader of the Commoner’s Party, which wants to promote policies benefiting the poor.

The junta last year passed a law requiring political parties to have at least 1 million baht (US$30,475) as initial capital, while each founder has to contribute at least 1,000 baht. In addition, each party is required to recruit at least 5,000 paying members during its first year and add at least another 5,000 within the first five years. Even if the party is approved, this process will hamper their campaigning prospects, Chumaporn said: “We cannot run any campaign until the Election Commission approves our registration.”

I know that we should not give up but my vote doesn’t count

Analysts also warn that polls may not decide who forms the new government or its policies. The 2017 Constitution, drafted by the junta and approved via a referendum in 2016, establishes a five-year transitional period after the election when the senate, indirectly nominated by the military, will be key in choosing the new government. It also allows a non-MP to become the prime minister, leaving the door open for current Prime Minister Prayuth to renew his job without running in the elections.
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“With this new constitution they have attempted to create something that they can predict and something that they can keep checks on,” said Paul Chambers, an expert on the Thai military and politics at Thailand’s Naresuan University. The junta has also locked in the country’s economic policy for the next two decades in its so-called 20-year development plan, which will be binding for any future government.

“It looks like democracy, it acts like democracy, but it is not democracy,” Chambers said.

This has led to disillusionment among some voters. “I gave up with the elections already because I think there is no hope. Politicians buy votes from people, who don’t care about politics or don’t understand them,” said Phumpan Siripakdee, 37, who voted in the 2011 elections that brought Thaksin Shinawatra’s sister, Yingluck, to power.

“I know that we should not give up but my vote doesn’t count,” said Phumpan, who works as a manager at a local television station. “I feel like they are cheating and I don’t want to play that game”.

By Laura Villadiego
South China Morning Post

Thailand Politics

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

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.

More in: Move Forward Party

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Thailand Politics

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

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”.

 

 

 

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Thailand Politics

Thaksin Shinawatra Files 100 Million Baht Defamation Lawsuit Against Warong Dechgitvigrom

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.

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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.

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