Thailand Politics

Thailand’s Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha Prolongs his Grip on Power

Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has curbed basic freedoms and failed to energize the economy

BANGKOK – Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha repeatedly presents himself as a reluctant leader, and yet he is now on track to become his country’s longest-ruling strongman since the 1970s.

Gen.Prayuth seized power in May 2014 to, as he put it, rescue his turmoil-racked nation and “return happiness to the people”.

But the scuttling of a draft constitution this month has prolonged military rule and cast further doubts on the former army chief’s professed allergy to high office.

It could also erode rather than consolidate Prayuth’s power, say experts, as public discontent grows with a junta that has curbed basic freedoms and failed to energize the economy.

Gen.Prayuth, who arrives in New York this week to speak at the U.N. General Assembly, toppled the remnants of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s elected government weeks after a court removed her. The coup halted months of often violent street protests.

He imposed martial law, cowed political opponents and set about mending what he called “a flawed democratic system”.

Martial law was replaced in April by a sweeping security clause that politicians, scholars and human rights monitors said granted Prayuth unchecked power.

Criticism also greeted the decision by a junta-appointed council to vote down the draft constitution. Writing a new one, and putting it to a national referendum, will delay a general election until mid-2017 at the earliest, or about a year after the junta initially promised.

“I’m not happy that I got more time. It’s more hard work,” Prayuth told reporters last week.

Yet if he holds power until even late 2016, Prayuth will have outlasted every Thai military ruler since Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn, who was prime minister for almost a decade until ousted by a popular uprising in 1973.

Prayuth has comparatively low levels of corruption to thank for his government retaining some “limited legitimacy”, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political analyst at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University.

“As long as corruption remains manageable, Prayuth will have some leeway, especially if the economy chugs along,” he said.

“SMART ENOUGH”

Prayuth, 61, is often portrayed as a buffoon or a tyrant, thanks in part to public gaffes and threats that aides attribute to his abstruse sense of humor.

At one news conference, he vowed to “execute” anti-government journalists. At another, he likened Thai democracy to a wrongly buttoned-up shirt – and then, by way of illustration, began unbuttoning his own.

But even political opponents say Prayuth is smarter than he is often portrayed, although they question his ability to bring lasting peace and prosperity to a divided and economically fragile country.

“A lot of people … say he’s a bumbling fool. But he’s not. He’s smart enough,” said Suranand Vejjajiva, Yingluck’s former chief of staff. “But does he have the world view or the perspective to run the country? I doubt it.”

Prayuth was born in Korat, in northeast Thailand, where his father was an army colonel. He attended Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, Thailand’s answer to Westpoint or Sandhurst.

As a young platoon leader, he formed a lifelong bond with two soldiers who today tower over Thai politics: General Prawit Wongsuwan and General Anupong Paochinda.

Together with Prayuth, then a deputy regional commander, they helped oust Yingluck’s brother Thaksin in an earlier coup in 2006.

Today, Prawit is Thailand’s deputy prime minister and Anupong its interior minister.

“They know the way each other thinks,” said Major General Werachon Sukhondhapatipak, a government spokesman.

Every New Year, the three men gather at Prawit’s house and usually celebrate by dressing as cowboys, said Werachon.

HOT HEADS AND HOLY WATER

An ardent royalist, Prayuth sees himself as a protector of the monarchy as the long reign of Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand’s much-loved but ailing king, enters its twilight.

His junta has slapped royal critics with record jail sentences of up to 60 years under draconian lese majeste laws.

Prayuth is superstitious, revealing last year he had doused himself in holy water to stop “people putting curses on me”. He is also famously hot-headed.

“He speaks his mind, he’s sincere,” said spokesman Werachon. “He can be temperamental, of course … But when it comes to a crisis, he’s the one who is most composed.”

Prayuth shows little sign of mellowing. Last week, he defended the decision to detain two opposition politicians at a military base for so-called “attitude adjustment”.

“I’m not their father, but if your children disobey your orders, would you allow it?” said Prayuth, who also threatened to deal with his critics by putting a plaster on their mouths.

By Andrew R.C. Marshall, additional reporting by Aubrey Belford, Martin Petty, Pairat Temphairojana and Pracha Hariraksapitak in Bangkok

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.