Thailand Politics

Prime Minister Prayut tells Reporters No More Military Coups

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he believes there will be no more military coups

BANGKOK – Speaking during a lunch with reporters at Government House on Wednesday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he believes there will be no more military coups and says he will definitely not take the prime minister’s post as an outsider, no matter what the circumstances.

Also present at the lunch with reporters at Government House were Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Surasak Karnjanarat, and PM’s secretary-general Wilas Aroonsri.

Asked if he was worried that people would become bored with him if he stayed in power for another 20 months, as seems likely, the prime minister jokingly replied: “I am already bored with myself, it’s not just the people.”

“Problems these days are complicated. I am ready to hand over my job to another person.”

Asked what if the old-face politicians return, Gen Prayut said it would be the people’s decision at the elections.

Asked whether the military would again take power in the future, he said: “No. Not again.”

“The situation has changed. The country is now surrounded by the world. Who would dare to do that? We must try not to let that happen again,” he said.

“Even if that happened, I would not get involved. I would rather go home.”

Gen Prayut told the Bangkok Post they needed not fear an outsider would move in and take the prime minister’s post. “I, for one, will definitely not take it.”

If he was asked by the people to take the job, Gen Prayut said he knows what he can do and to what extent.

Asked whether the 20 months set down under Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam’s 6-4-6-4 formula could be shortened, Gen Prayut said this would depend on all the people concerned, especially those with legal expertise.

He said he had not issued a directive that the 20-month time frame be shortened. He had only suggested that it should be shorter, if possible.

If the 20-month time frame was adhered to, there would be a general election in July 2017, Gen Prayut told the Bangkok Post.

Meanwhile, The Nation’s senior reporter Pravit Rojanaphruk was released yesterday afternoon by the military after agreeing to sign agreement not to make destructive criticism that is considered detrimental to its roadmap to democracy.

Pravit was taken out of custody at the 11th Army Infantry Regiment along with former Pheu Thai MP Karun Hosakul to the First Army Regiment headquarters where the agreement documents were prepared for them to sign for their releases.

The agreement states that they must not make any movement or offer any criticism that could hamper the work of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

After the release, the senior journalist wrote on his Twitter saying , “Released by Thai junta already. Thanks to friends, colleagues & supporters. My ideology is intact. Will talk more later.

Pravit was last Sunday invited by the military to the First Army Region’s headquarter reportedly for attitude adjustment.

Two military officers went to Pravit’s house last Saturday morning at about 10 am but he was not at home.

On the following day however, an officer called the Nation reporter asking him to report to Colonel Suthat Narkphan, director of operations of the First Army Region on Sunday at 2 pm.

Accompanied by a lawyer, Pravit went to the First Army Region headquarter and he was escorted to a conference room in Miskawan building. Pravit was told to leave his phone number to the lawyer who was later told to leave.

The lawyer made an enquiry about when the reporter would be allowed to leave.

Following thus, the Thai Journalists Association urged the government and the NCPO to clarify the detention of a senior reporter of The Nation newspaper reportedly for attitude adjustment.

TJA vice president and spokesman Manop Thip-osot called on the First Army Region to explain the reason why and where he was detained.

The reporter, he said, was not allowed to bring with him his smartphone and, therefore, his whereabouts were unknown.

Even though the junta can invoke Section 44 of the interim charter to detain any individuals as it thinks fit, Manop said that the junta must exercise caution especially against members of the media who, in their performance of duty, should be free in making criticism of the government or the junta.

Detaining the reporter without informing him of the charges against him does not bode well for press freedom and basic rights in Thailand under the current administration, said the TJA vice president.

Thai PBS, Bangkok post

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.