Thailand Politics

Thailand Urges U.S. to Reconsider Plan to Relocate Cobra Gold Military Exercise

U.S. government was considering moving next year's Cobra Gold exercise out of Thailand following the May 22 coup

U.S. government considering moving next year’s Cobra Gold exercise out of Thailand following the May 22 coup

BANGKOK – Thailand called on the United States on Wednesday to reconsider moving the Cobra Gold military exercise from the military-ruled country.

Col. Virachon Sukonthapatipak, spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order, the official name of the Thai military junta which staged last month’s coup to oust an elected government, told military attaches from 15 countries during a briefing at the army headquarters that the U.S. government should seriously review any plan to relocate the multinational military exercise supposedly in protest of military rule in Thailand.

The Thai colonel’s comments immediately followed news reports that the U.S. government was considering moving next year’s Cobra Gold exercise out of Thailand following the May 22 coup which already prompted Washington to cut 4.7 million U.S. dollars in annual military aid to the Southeast Asian country.

“The United States is strongly suggested to reconsider any plan to relocate the Cobra Gold exercise and to separate internal political affairs from regional security matters.

“Regional security does not only involve Thailand but several other countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region including the United States.

“Internal politics could possibly raise temporary concerns while regional security should be considered a lasting, significant issue,” he said.

The military attaches who attended Wednesday’s briefing for a second time since army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha staged the bloodless coup included those from the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Thailand and the United States have jointly conducted the Cobra Gold, the largest military exercise in the Asia-Pacific region, since 1982. The annual exercise has been participated by military forces of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea.

Several other countries have sent observers including China, Russia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, South Africa and New Zealand.

Col. Virachon said those military attaches had largely understood the current military rule and been reassured of the National Council for Peace and Order’s roadmap to return democratic rule to the Thai people within next year.

The Cambodian military attache had also agreed to help with an ongoing effort to bring migrant workers back to Thailand after they had scrambled out across the Thai-Cambodian border in the face of groundless rumors of a sweeping crackdown on illegal laborers,he added.

An estimated 220,000 Cambodian migrant workers, mostly employed at construction sites and manufacturing factories, had returned home for fears of being arrested earlier this month but many have begun to come back to Thailand.

Meanwhile, the ruling military has called on the international community to look out for those Thai dissidents for whom arrest warrants have already been issued, including Charupong Ruangsuwan, a member of the previous Yingluck Shinawatra cabinet and former leader of the previous ruling Pheu Thai (for Thais) Party.

Charupong, believed to have fled to Cambodia shortly after the Thai military staged the coup, set up the so-called Organization of Free Thais for Human Rights and Democracy,the whereabouts of which remains a mystery.

He also fell short of saying how his organization would practically fight against military rule in Thailand.

Cambodian authorities had categorically dismissed allegation that they had provided shelter or assistance to the former Thai interior minister.

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.