Critics warn Thaksin off politics

Thaksin Shinawatra holds the hand of his daughter Paetongtarn on the occasion of the royal endorsement of her prime ministerial post at the headquarters of the Pheu Thai Party in Bangkok on Aug 18. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)
At the Pheu Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok on August 18th, Thaksin Shinawatra holds the palm of his child Paetongtarn. ( Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)

Social observers believe that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the new government could be in problems if they allow themselves to be under the control of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Jade Donavanik, a constitutional scholar and chairman of the College of Asian Scholars’s faculty of law, told the Bangkok Post that Thaksin’s tries to micro-manage the government will only backfire on the new prime minister and his girl, Ms Paetongtarn.

” The more he is trying to speak in public and act as if he is the manager of the government, the more resistance he will face]from opponents ].

” In special, Ms Paetongtarn could be in difficulties if Pheu Thai, of which she is the president, allows itself to be controlled and influenced by Thaksin,” Mr Jade said.

The alert comes after Thaksin spoke at an event called” Vision for Thailand 2024 “on Thursday, attended by officials, officials and buyers.

Observers said that Thaksin’s notes at the time of the meeting reinforced his conviction that he still resides as the true leader of the new state and the Pheu Thai Party.

Some claimed that Thaksin’s conversation on Thursday evening was nothing more than a condensed version of the policy declaration that the Paetongtarn government will soon give in congress.

Instead of speaking in public or dictating to others,” Mr. Jade said, it would be best if Thaksin acts slowly behind the scenes to deal with coalition friends.”

The ruling group may find itself in hot water if evidence of him trying to exert influence is revealed, according to Mr. Jade, who referred to the Political Parties Act, which forbids a group from giving in to outsiders, an offence that could lead to group breakdown.

A party is prohibited from letting an outsider power, impose, or handle its actions in a way that affects the party’s and its members ‘ freedom.

Part 29 bars non-party people from dominating, influencing or directing party politics, both directly and indirectly, to control group members ‘ flexibility.

Section 108 states sanctions against the criminal in Section 29, with a prison term of between five to 10 times and/or a great of between 100, 000 and 200, 000 ringgit. Additionally, the perpetrator may lose their ability to run for office.

” Thaksin is the main element. It would be ideal if he maintained silence. But it might be challenging for him,” Mr. Jade said.

Jade: ' Best if he kept calm'

Jade: ‘ Best if he kept calm’

Growing force

Ms. Paetongtarn must also resolve some problems, including the purchase of a contentious religious story that includes the Alpine Golf Club and a private advanced, according to Mr. Jade.

The terrain in Pathum Thani’s Klong Luang city was donated by a lady, Noem Chamnanchartsakda, to Wat Dhammamikaramvoraviharn in Prachuap Khiri Khan again in 1971.

After her death, the Mahamongkut Ratchawittayalai Foundation, which was appointed as the trustee of her house, sold the land to Alpine Real Estate and Alpine Golf and Sports Club, of which Ms Paetongtarn is a stockholder.

Yongyuth Wichaidit, the former president of Pheu Thai, abused his position of authority by allowing the purchase of religious land to make approach for the Alpine Golf Club while acting as the interior’s acting permanent secretary in 2002, according to the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct cases in 2017.

The Appeal Court upheld a two-year jail word handed down by the lower court in 2019. In 2020, the Appeal Court denied Yongyuth’s demand to appeal the ruling.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission ( NAC ), which conducted the sale, found Yongyuth guilty of revoked a Land Department order that revoked the sale of Alpine Real Estate Co.

Because it was religious land, the Council of State ruled the sale illegitimate, forcing land officials to renounce the agreement.

Former assistant spokesman for the opposition’s Democrat Party, Chao Meekhuad, recently said Ms. Paetongtarn may return the land to the church to avoid any legal wrangling that might put her in danger of winning the election.

Mr. Jade added that he thought Ms. Paetongtarn may be put under more stress because of these problems, making her to dissolve the House as a result.

Given that Thaksin also faces a Area 112 event related to an appointment he gave in 2016 and subsequent attempts to contain der majeste on the list of crimes that would be pardoned under a political asylum bill, he added, could also translate into a significant issue for the government.

However, the witness reading for the Lese Majority v. Thaksin case was postponed until July of next year at the Criminal Court.

He made remarks in an appointment with Chosun Ilbo in South Korea on May 21, 2015.

In the meeting, he claimed secret council supported the 2014 revolt that ousted the government of his younger sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.

He was even charged with machine murder in addition to the der guess under Section 112 of the Criminal Code because the meeting was posted online.

Subject to scrutiny

Past Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat warned the Bangkok Post that Ms. Paetongtarn must step carefully to avoid falling victim to former prime minister Srettha Thavisin, who was fired from office on August 14 for appointing past convict Pichit Chuenban as a secretary of the PM’s office in violation of the Constitutional Court’s morality.

” The judge’s ruling has set a standard, and social office-holders may be mindful,” Mr Nipit said.

He added that since she has no experience running national interests, the new prime minister may be subject to strict scrutiny from now on, and any failure to address the country’s economic problems may also put pressure on the new government.

According to Mr. Nipit, Mr. Nipit referred to a notice from the NACC about a number of potential pitfalls linked to the plan, from graft to legitimate concerns, and suggested that the new government should also be facing possible legitimate risks if it insists on continuing with the electronic wallet handout scheme, which is Pheu Thai’s flagship policy.

Mr. Nipit agreed with Mr. Nipit’s suggestion that Thaksin may maintain a low profile and stop running the new administration.

If Thaksin exerts very much obvious influence over the government, Thaksin’s critics will become upset and prepared to rally in the roads. If the government does n’t address economic issues,” things could get worse,” he said.

Given his controversial registration, he added that the new government may not be able to finish its expression as Ms. Paetongtarn may experience the same death as Mr. Srettha if she appoints Capt. Thamanat Prompow as a government minister in the new administration.

Nipit: Opponents ready to rally

Nipit: Opponents ready to rally

The Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ), a coalition partner, has nominated the same four MPs in the last government, including Capt Thamanat, to serve as ministers in the new Pheu Thai-led cabinet.

The PPRP said it will find a replacement if the ruling party determines any of the four to be ineligible.

According to observers, Capt. Thamanat, who served in the previous government as the interim minister of agriculture and cooperatives, may not be qualified to hold a cabinet position despite his conviction and sentence for a drug-related offence in Australia in the 1990s.

Virot Ali, a lecturer at Thammasat University’s faculty of political science, said he believes the new government will be able to cope with the country’s problems, though all eyes are on whether the digital wallet handout scheme will be adjusted.

” People have been concerned about the economy. They are keeping an eye on any change in the government’s policy, “he said

However, Ms Paetongtarn previously said the scheme is likely to proceed.

First, the welfare card will be used to give cash to those who are most vulnerable.

The scheme, which aims to distribute 10, 000 baht via a digital wallet to about 50 million eligible Thais, hangs in the balance following the Constitutional Court’s dismissal of Mr Srettha.

Mr. Virot agreed that Thaksin’s attempts to impose himself on the new prime minister may have failed.

” Criticism cannot be avoided. Now that Ms Paetongtarn]is ] prime minister, Thaksin must try to do everything he can to support her, “he said.

” But he also has to make sure he does not overshadow Ms Paetongtarn’s role,” Mr Virot said.

Virot: All eyes on digital wallet

Virot: All eyes on digital wallet