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Thai Politics Updates – May 2011
Thai-Cambodian relation After the outbreak of violence between Thai and Cambodian soldiers that left 18 people killed last month, Thai and Cambodian leaders agreed to meet again on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit held in Jakarta on the 8th of May. Under the mediation of the Indonesian President Susilo Bambong Yudoyono, Abhisit Vejjajiya and Hun Sen stood firm to their positions and apparently could not agree on the details of proposed deployment of Indonesian observers in the area; the Thai Prime Minister asked the Cambodian troops to withdraw from the area before any Indonesian observers be sent, while the Cambodians wanted the Indonesia team to arrive before they can consider troop withdrawal. Both leaders admitted the conflict could affect Asean's goal to become a single community in 2015 but blamed each other for endangering the project. The next day, foreign ministers of both countries agreed to a sixpoint “package solution” (Bangkok Post, 10/05) including the deployment of an Indonesian Observation Team to the disputed border area, and a set of common procedures for the holding of the Joint Border Commission (JBC) and General Border Committee (GBC) . On May 30 and 31, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) considered the case of Preah Vihear opposing Thailand and Cambodia, under the request of Phnom Penh. The ICJ, which had ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, was now being asked to deliver a judgment on whose ownership claim on the land surrounding the temple was rightful. Cambodia‟s demand included an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Thai troops from the disputed area and a ban on Thai military activity. Thailand simply wanted to ICJ to refuse to consider the case. According to the Thailand defense team, Thailand had accepted the earlier ICJ ruling. So had Cambodia but Phnom Penh started to challenge border demarcation around the temple when Preah Vihear was listed as a World Heritage Site in July 2008. Thai Foreign Minister, Kasit Piromya, reiterated that Thailand's dispute was specifically over the 4.6-square-kilometre area surrounding the complex and NOT on the temple itself (Bangkok Post, 31/05/11).
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House dissolution The Lower House was dissolved on the 10th of May 2011 and snap election called after the Constitution Court on the 9th of May unanimously ruled that the three election-related bills passed by parliament were not unconstitutional, clearing way for a general election. The three bills govern elections of MPs and senators, political parties, and the Election Commission. Days before the House was dissolved, in a marathon cabinet meeting the government approved a long list of projects and other spending, including a 25-billion baht home mortgage subsidy program for first-time home-buyers, 15.8 billion baht for education reform projects under the Education Ministry, and 10.7 billion baht for a long-term human resources development project under the Ministry of Public Health. The opposition accused the government of trying to buy votes through government projects.
2011 General Election Political party “primaries” Before the dissolution was even announced and the date for new elections set, all political parties started to seek the best candidates and work on their policy platform. Yingluck Shinawatra, the youngest sister of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin, was on Monday 16 May chosen to fill the No.1 spot on the Pheu Thai party list, which implies that in case of a victory, she will become the first female prime minister of Thailand. She was at first widely criticized by the Democrat Party as lacking political experience and being just another puppet of Thaksin unable to take a decision by herself. However she said that, with regards to the party-list, Thaksin would not have to check it, but that he would only work on developing the policies. Asian Thai New Network asserted that Yingluck may be subject to disqualification under the constitution‟s Section 102, barring people whose assets have been seized by court order for reasons of unusual wealth or unusual increase in wealth; the 26 February 2010 Supreme Court Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders decision in the Thaksin Shinawatra asset seizure also found that Yingluck had been among the proxies who held shares on behalf of Thaksin. Former Assets Scrutiny Committee member Kaewsan Atibhodhi claimed that Yingluck could face three charges of perjury for testimony given to the defunct ASC, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Supreme Court. A source at the Office of the Attorney-General, however, which would apparently be responsible for bringing charges against Yingluck, reportedly said that Yingluck‟s testimony did not damage anyone and should not be considered actionable.
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Banned politicians continued to wield influence in other political parties as well, like Newin Chidchob for Bhumjaithai and Banharn Silapa-acha for Chat Thai Pattana Party. In the Democrat Party, Abhisit Vejjajiya was chosen as the natural party-list number 1 candidate. Candidacy registration The registration period for candidates on party lists kicked off on Thursday, May 19, at the Thai-Japanese Stadium in Din Daeng. Jatuporn Promparn, rather well placed on the Pheua Thai party list asked the Criminal Court for a temporary release from jail to be able to present himself at the registration, but in vain. Party representatives met at the Thai-Japanese stadium to draw their ballot numbers. The Pheua Thai party got the lucky “1” number and the Democrat Party the “10”. In total, 40 parties registered.
Party-lists Number
1.
Party
English unofficial translation
Pheua Thai
For Thais
Number 1 candidate Number and other high-profile of party-list candidates candidate s on the party list 1.Yingluck Shinawatra 125 2.Yongyuth Wichaidith 3.Chalerm Yumbamrung 4.Sanoh Thienthong 6.Mingkwan Saengsuwan 8.Jatuporn Promparn 9.Nattawut Saikua
2.
3.
Chat Pattana Nation‟s Prapan Limpaphan Pheua Pendin Development for the Land Prachatipatai New Democracy Mai
125
6
4
4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Prachakon Thai
Thai Citizen Party Rak Prathet Thai Love Thailand Palang Chon Palang Chon Party Prachatham Prachatham Damrong Thai Damrong Thai Party Palang Muan Mass Power Chon Prachatipat Democrat Party
Sumit Sunthonwet
13
Chuwit Kamonwisit Santasak Charoon Ngampichet Ta Enrul Lo Hama Chot Pat Sakundi Cheut Chu Visnu Insopyung
11 18
1.Abhisit Vejjajiya
125
25 13 8
2.Chuan Leekpai 6.Korn Chatikavanij 8.Apirak Khosayothin
11.
Thai Popieng
12. 13. 14. 15.
Rak Santi Thai pen Suk Kit Sangkhom Thai Pen Thai
16. 17.
Bhumjaithai Then khun Pendin Pheua Pha Din For heaven and earth party Khreua Khai Thai farmersâ€&#x; Chaw Na Heng network party Prathet Thai Kan Meuang New Politics Mai Chat Thai Development of Pattana the Nation Seriniyom Liberal Party Chat Samakdi National harmony Bamrung Muang Nurture the country Kasikorn Thai Kasikorn Thai Matubhum Matubhum Party Chiwit thi di kwa Better life party
18. 19.
20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.
Palang Sangkhom Thai
Sufficiency Party Love Peace Happy Thais Social Action Thai is Thai Party Proud to be Thai
Societyâ€&#x;s Power
42.Kasit Piromya Chamrat Intuman
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Pracham Piensombun Pradit Sri Pracha Suwit Khunkitti Pongsuchin Wirakittapanith Chawrat Chanwirakul Wemaadi Wetao
64 5 125 10
KhenFa Senmuang
1
Chot BunCheung
30
Somsak Kosaisuk
24
Chumpon Silpa acha
125
Phutchat Chueyram Noppadon Chairathideth Thani Suranpheut
8 9
Chamlong Damsim Sonthi Boonyaratglin Wonthawarit Thantipirom Wiwat Leayuk
2 40 4
125 32
14
5
5
29.
For Thai people
Deerek Klingchan
4
Mahachon Party Thai people
Apirat Sirinawin Sunthon Sriboonak
6 5
32.
Pheua Prachachon Thai Mahachon Prachachon Chaw Thai Rak Pendin
Love the land
1
33.
Prachasanti
34
34.
Kwamwang Mai
Civil Party New hope
30. 31.
35. 36.
Thonkrit Waythawainon Peace Seri Suwannaphanon
ChingChai 125 Mongkontham Asamatuphum Assamatuphum Tiradet Leutsatanon 3 Palang Khon Sportâ€&#x;s party of Wanna Sattana 103 Kila Thailand Satchakun
37.
Palang Chaw Na Thai Farmerâ€&#x;s Ms Thongkham 5 Thai powers Kusoniem
38.
Thai Sang San
39.
Pheua Thai
40.
Maharat Pattana
Creative Thai
Chetanarin Piemrasari
Kaset For Thai Ubonsak Agriculture Bualuangngam
Maharat Pattana Narongchai Party Panyanonthachai
Total
4 23
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1,410
Constituency-based MPs The candidacy registration for constituency-based seats was open from May 24 to May 28. Pheua Thai and the Democrat Party fielded candidates in each of the 375 constituencies.
Links between colour-coded social movements and political parties While the constitution of party-lists seem to have confirmed the linkage between the redshirts and the Pheua Thai Party, the relationship between the yellow-shirts and the Democrat Party seem to have lost all relevance during this electoral campaign.
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A faction of the remaining PAD members called for a “no vote”, with a very visually striking campaign portraying all politicians as animals with the slogan “don‟t let animals enter the parliament”, while another faction called on yellow-shirts to vote for the PAD‟s political wing, the New Politics Party. On the other hand, the street politics movement UDD stood right beside the Pheua Thai party during the campaign and made up 20 percent of the list. Indeed, according to the Nation or the Bangkok Post, at least 25 red-shirt leaders or their close associates - including the wives of four leaders – were placed among the Pheua Thai Party's 125 candidates contesting the July 3 general elections in the party-list system. These include key leaders of last year's street rally, Jatuporn Prompan and Natthawut Saikua, who have the 8th and 9th spots respectively on the party list. Weng Tojirakarn, another key red-shirt leader, is in 19th place on the list. This significant presence of red-shirts on the Pheua Thai party list contented the red-shirts very much. As red-shirt leader Thida Tojirakarn put it, “the Pheu Thai Party was now a mass political party as red leaders were able to fill its party list. The masses have now begun to control the party," (the Nation, 20 May 21) Launch of the electoral campaign Democrat Party leader Abhsiit Vejjajiva launched his party‟s election campaigning at the Temple of Dawn, in Bangkok, before a crowd of about 200. He promised that his party would fight consumer product price increases, and help raise people‟s incomes and living standards. He pledged a 25 percent increase in the daily minimum wage within two years, a 25 percent increase in farm subsidies, loans for 250,000 university students, and further development of the 15-year free education program. He said he would establish a drug task force. Launching her campaign for Pheu Thai in Chiang Mai, Yingluck Shinawatra declared to a crowd of about 15,000 supporters that if elected she would declare a new war on drugs and drive illicit drugs out of society within 12 months. She also announced she would declare war on poverty, eliminating it within four years. She promised to increase funding under the village fund scheme to two million baht per village, and to make sure the 30 baht health care program works again. Election Commission Amidst growing concerns about the possible use of the monarchy as a political tool by candidates and parties, the Election Commission refused to issue regulations on the matter, rather inviting all political parties to sign a mutual agreement to refrain from doing so. The agreement was a key element of the so-called five-point testament signed on the 2nd of May at a meeting organised by the Election Commission (EC) in Bangkok. Opinion Polls Various organizations including Suan Dusit and ABAC published opinion polls results on all sorts of issues relating to the electoral campaign. Polls showed that while the race was to be
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fierce in Bangkok, both parties would retain their traditional strongholds, the North and Isan for the Pheua Thai, the South for the Democrats, with a very low abstention rate (less than 10 percent). Throughout the month, poll results showed that Thai people were calling for a debate between the leaders of the two main parties, sending a strong signal that Thailand has entered a two-party or bipartisan system. However, while Abhisit affirmed that he really liked the idea, Yingluck declined the offer, arguing that she had no time for it. An interesting poll on the comparison between perceptions of the two leaders‟ prime ministerial abilities was conducted by Abac during the last week of April. As summarized in the Bangkok Post, (02/05), “Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has outperformed Yingluck Shinawatra in 17 of 18 criteria in an opinion poll to rate the country's next leader. Mr Abhisit was beaten by Ms Yingluck, one of Pheu Thai Party's would-be candidates for the premiership and the younger sister of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in one area _ wealth and business achievements. The Democrat leader outperformed Ms Yingluck in temper control (53.7%9.7% ), politeness (50.1%-13%), domestic and international recognition (49.6%- 11.3%), good conduct (49.6%- 9.8%), kindness (48.2%-13.1%), leadership (48.1%-12.9%), ability (47.9%-10.9%), political ethics (46.9%-11%), vision (46.8%- 15.2%), sacrifice for the country (44%-11.9%), honesty (42.9%- 10.3%), fairness (41.4%-10.6%), decisiveness (40.1%-19%) and problem-solving (38.8%-14.3%).” Despite Thai perceptions that Abhisit was more qualified for the top job, by the end of the month most polls were forecasting Yingluck‟s electoral victory. Coalition politics In Thai parliamentary politics, it is common knowledge that who has to run the country must be able to command 300 or more seats to secure a stable government. Also, each smaller party is eager to join a coalition under the leadership of either one or the other of the two major parties, the Democrat Party and the Pheua Thai, without ideological considerations. Talks for forming alliances began very early, as soon as the electoral campaign was launched. In anticipation of Yingluck‟s electoral victory, many political parties expressed their readiness to work together with the red party. After the Democrat and the Pheua Thai party, Bhumjaithai party is expected to win the most votes. Former Transport Minister, Sohpon Zarum, also Bhumjaithai's deputy leader, said that the party's main goal was to be part of the next government, no matter which party leads it or who will be prime minister. However, Pheua Thai excluded this possibility because of „diverging ideologies‟ (Yingluck, quote). Bhumjaithai was formerly a faction of the Palang Prachachon (People‟s Power Party) which, when the PPP was dissolved, allied with the Democrat Party and were instrumental in the set up of the Parliament in December 2008.
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Court cases Yellow-shirts On the 10th of May, police recommended the prosecution of 114 yellow shirts in connection with the seizures of Government House and Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in 2008. They include Chamlong Srimuang, leader of the People‟s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and former core ally of Thaksin Shinawatra, The previous day, the Criminal Court sentenced five PAD guards to three years‟ imprisonment (reduced to two for their confessions) for attempted hijacking of a passenger bus. The five were Teeradet Wanna, Chaiwat Thapthong, Thani Art-sawang, Somchai Thongkiart and Pongpan Kachan. (A sixth defendant had died on April 2 before the verdict). Red-shirts At the beginning of the month, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) asked the Criminal Court to revoke the bail of nine red-shirt leaders for breaking their bail conditions by making speeches at a red-shirt protest rally site in Bangkok on April 10. They include Veerakarn (formerly Veera) Musikhapong, Jatuporn Prompan, Natthawut Saikua, Weng Tojirakarn, Korkaew Pikulthong, Kwanchai Praipana, Yoswarit Chuklom, Nisit Sinthuprai and Wiputhalaeng Pattanaphumchai. The Criminal Court cancelled bail of Jatuporn and Nisit. On the 12th of May, the Criminal Court denied a bail request for red-shirt leaders and former MPs Jatuporn Prompan and Nisit Sinthuprai filed by a lawyer of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. The bail was rejected on ground of possible unrest caused by the release of the two men. On the 19th of May, sentences in connection with carrying weapons without registration at protest sites in April last year were reduced or cancelled by the Criminal Court. One of the men who were arrested on March 6, 2010 in the police parking lot was a close associate of high-profile Maj Gen Khattiya “Seh Daeng” Sawasdipol, shot in the head by a sniper on May 13, 2010. More importantly, 17 core members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) were summoned by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to appear to hear lese majeste charges against them on June 2. Altogether 19 core UDD members are accused of lèse-majesté in their speeches at a UDD rally on April 10 at the Democracy Monument in violation of Articles 83, 86, 112 and 116 of the Criminal Code. They are Jatuporn Prompan, Weng Tojirakarn, Natthawut Saikua, Korkaew Pikulthong, Thida Thavornseth, Karun Hosakul, Yossawaris Chuklom or Jeng Dokchik, Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai, Veerakarn Musikhapong, Chinawat Haboonphat, Wichian Khaokham, Suporn Atthawong, Kwanchai Sarakham, Nisit Sinthuprai, Prasit Chaisrisa, Worawut Wichaidit, Ladawal Wongsriwong, Somchai or Pipatchai Paiboon, and Payap Panket. Of the 19, Mr Jatuporn and Mr Nisit are currently detained in the Bangkok Remand Prison on terrorism charges after their bail was revoked.
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Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, executive editor of the now-defunct Voice of Thaksin magazine and former core leader of the UDD, was arrested on April 30 on lèse-majesté charges.
Security issues Electoral violence As soon as the dissolution of the House became effective, the first election-related violent incident occurred. Former Pheua Thai MP for Samut Prakan Pracha Prasopdee was shot in the back by unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike on May 10. The second incident took place in Bangkok‟s Bang Khun‟s district on May 26. The house of a canvasser for the Democrat Party was attacked by gunmen but no one was injured or hurt. According to the Royal Thai police, a total of 77 party list and constituency MP candidates nationwide had asked for police protection by the end of May, most of them from the incumbent Democrat Party and the opposition Pheua Thai Party.
Southern insurgency Violence in the Deep South continued to break out on a daily basis in May, leaving people dead including monks (May 17, Yala) suspected militants in a gunfight with security forces (May 20, Yala) police officers (May 29, Narathiwat), army soldier (May 25, Yala) and ordinary Muslim villagers (Yala, May 25) Yellow-shirt rally The yellow–shirt rally, still on in Bangkok‟s Rachadomnoen area, seems to have lost momentum; its radical stance on election (“vote-no campaign” with the slogan “don‟t let animals enter the parliament” portraying politicians as water monitor or buffalos) combined with its extremist stance on the border dispute led to gradual loss of credibility for the movement. After a few defections over the previous months, another former ally (the “Thais loving peace group”) called on the PAD to end its protest. Internal Security Act The Internal Security Act was lifted from Bangkok on May 24. It had remained active until then in seven districts including Dusit, Phra Nakhon, Pomprap Sattruphai, Ratchathewi, Pathumwan, Watthana and Wang Thong Lang. The Center for the Administration of Peace and Order, in charge of the ISA implementation, was subsequently closed down on the same day.
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Freedom of Assembly On May the 27th, the Parliament passed a bill regulating public protests. The bill is now waiting for Senate‟s approval. Reconciliation “KHWAMPRONDONG” The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, appointed by the Democrat-led Government and headed by Kanit Na Nakorn, closed its public hearings sessions. The head of the subcommittee in charge of the hearings, Somchai Homla-or, expressed its regrets that the army, the DSI, the police and red-shirts did not give their full cooperation with the Commission. He highlighted the fact that the Commission had no power to summon people to testify. A keyword of the red-shirts campaign is „no reconciliation and no peace without truth”. Accountability for the events that left about 2,000 people injured and 91 people dead is a precondition to reconciliation. National Reform Also of high interest are the conclusions of another panel appointed by Abhisit‟s government on national reform. The committee, led by a former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun, dissolved itself on the 14th of May. Anand Panyarachun announced that he and the other members of the National Reform Committee have decided to resign now that a general election has been called. Anand complained that so far no political party has a clear policy on national reform, and that injustice prevails in the country because power is concentrated in Bangkok and other large cities. Anand also warned against populist policies that would put the government in debt and rob it of independence. Article 112 of the Criminal Code On May 20, following a complaint filed against Thammasat University lecturer Somsak Jiamteerasakul, one hundred writers co-signed a letter demanding an end to the use of the lèse-majesté law (article 112 of the Criminal Code) as a political tool. It especially calls on the army to stop using the law to silence its opponents. The move came months after another campaign, “Raise awareness 112” composed of well-known movie directors, advertising creatives, academics, journalists and students to commit themselves to the campaign to raise the public's awareness about the use of the law. According to media accounts, more and more people are being arrested under the law. For instance, in late May, authorities arrested Thai-born American citizen Joe Gordon for lèsemajesté and violation of the Computer Crime Act for content posted on his website, Nor Por Chor U.S.A, .; on 15 March 2011, in a separate case, Tantawut Taweeworadomkul was convicted on grounds of being the site‟s web master. Military reshuffle Army commander Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha reportedly ordered a military reshuffle, moving 157 colonels and lieutenant colonels.
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Appointment at the Privy Council HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej has appointed ACM Chalit Pukbhasuk as a privy councillor. The appointment took effect from May 18. Born on April 5, 1948, Chalit is a former chief of the Royal Thai Air Force.
Environmental rights Since the end of the month, civil courts are now entitled to accept environmental lawsuits. Supreme Court president Sobchoke Sukharom and court officials presided over the inauguration of environmental lawsuits through Civil Court procedures. Such cases require no lawsuit fees or lower fees from plaintiffs than in normal civil cases. On May 25, the civil court accepted its first case in which 214 farmers demand 2 million bath compensation from a garbage-disposal firm.
Telecommunications The Telecoms Of Thailand (TOT) announced they will launch their much-awaited 3G network by the middle of 2012. It will first be available in Bangkok and 13 provinces in the Greater Bangkok Region. TOT, which has so far recruited five companies to provide the 3G Service on their network, hit the headlines at the end of last year for accusations of unfairness of its bidding process. TOT targets 1.3 million 3G service subscribers this year before the number rises to 7 million by 2015. It expects revenue of Bt1.7 billion from the 3G service this year before rising to Bt3.482 billion next year (the Nation, 10 May 2011) The National Economic and Social Development Board has reportedly withheld approval for CAT Telecomâ€&#x;s 12-billion-baht, 14-year plan to deploy 3G wireless broadband service nationwide; and NESDB source said that the agency is waiting for the Finance Ministry to say whether the project complies with the 1992 Public-Private Joint Venture Act, as well as an opinion from the Information and Communications Technology Ministry.