Barkar Nash – Page 1018

Poll results ‘in mid-July’

On: June 8, 2023

Recount won’t delay MP endorsement: EC

Instant result sought: June 24 Democracy Group activists, in front of the Election Commission Office at the Government Complex, Chaeng Watthana, on Thursday demand that the EC certify the results of May 14’s general election immediately. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

A vote recount won’t affect the deadline for the Election Commission to endorse the election results in mid-July, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam on Thursday.

He made the assurance after the EC ordered a recount of votes received by MPs-elect at 47 polling stations across 16 provinces on Sunday when it found that the total number of ballots cast for the candidates did not match the number of people who turned out to vote.

The recount won’t affect the overall election time frame, as the EC has until July 13 to endorse the result of the polls, he said,

Under the current election rules, the EC has 60 days from the date of the election to make the election results official by certifying at least 95% of all MPs-elect.

Similarly, EC chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong said the results are likely to be endorsed well ahead of the mid-July deadline.

The public has been pressing the EC to endorse the results of the election as soon as possible, as the prolonged political uncertainty is hurting investors’ confidence in the country and, thus, the economy.

The coalition partners of the Move Forward Party (MFP), which is expected to lead the formation of the next government as it won the most votes in the May 14 election, are also pushing the EC to endorse the results quickly so they can get on with their political agendas.

According to a source at the EC, votes cast for list-MP candidates at 31 polling stations would be recounted, while votes for candidates in the constituency contest at 16 polling stations would be recounted.

The source said the recounts would be held on Sunday at 47 polling stations in 16 provinces, namely Bangkok, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Trang, Nakhon Nayok, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phrae, Lop Buri, Samut Sakhon, Saraburi, Sukhothai, Kanchanaburi, Chachoengsao, Phangnga, Phetchaburi, and Nong Khai.

Karoonpon Tieansuwan, an MFP deputy spokesman, said that the party did not think the recounts would have any bearing on the votes the party had received.

“We are confident Move Forward has received the voters’ mandate [to form a government],” he said, adding that the EC must provide a justification if any poll reruns were to be held.

A group of demonstrators on Thursday demanded the EC dismiss all complaints against MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat and endorse official election results as soon as possible to pave the way for the formation of a new government.

About 50 members of the June 24 Democracy group showed up at the EC’s headquarters at the Government Complex to voice their demands.

Their leader, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, said the EC should not accept any of the complaints filed in connection with Mr Pita’s shareholding in iTV Plc, saying there would be mass demonstrations otherwise, he said.

The constitution prohibits a shareholder of a media organisation from running as an MP in a general election.

“As the EC has not verified 95% of the MP vote results, the opening of the House is delayed, and parliament cannot convene to elect a prime minister,” Mr Somyot said.

“This allows Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the caretaker prime minister and defence minister, to remain in power.”

Attempts to block Mr Pita and the party that received overwhelming voter support from forming a government has resulted in an “ongoing political crisis”, Mr Somyot said.

Asean to hold first joint drills

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

JAKARTA: The Southeast Asian bloc will hold its first-ever joint military exercise in the South China Sea, its chair Indonesia said on Thursday, the latest multilateral security drills at a time of rising tension and uncertainty in the region.

The decision was taken at a meeting of military commanders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Indonesia, which will host the exercise in the North Natuna Sea, the southernmost waters of the South China Sea.

Indonesia’s military chief, Admiral Yudo Margono, told state-run news agency Antara the exercise would be in September and would not include any combat operations training. The purpose, Adm Margono said, was strengthening “Asean centrality”.

Asean’s unity has for years been tested by China-US rivalry in the South China Sea. Reuters

Justice official dead with bullet wound

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

The Court of Justice’s deputy chief of the narcotics division was found dead in his house on Wednesday with a bullet wound to his head and a handgun found near his body.

The body of Pramote Thampanichawat, 60, was found by his secretary at his residence in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok.

Pol Col Chisanupong Suriyanon, superintendent of Phahon Yothin Police Station, said a 9mm handgun was found next to Pramote’s right hand. He had a bullet entrance wound to his right temple.

Pol Col Chisanupong said there was no evidence of an assault or a fight at the scene.

He said police are making enquiries over the gun — checking who its registered owner is.

More evidence must be collected before officers can confirm he died by his own hand.

Family members told police that Pramote had been stressed by work and suffered bouts of fainting, but they were reportedly not aware of any other health conditions.

Rice dept in MFP’s crosshairs

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

The Move Forward Party (MFP) has launched its own investigation into claims of irregular spending for an event organised by the Department of Rice, saying state officials should be warned that the incoming government will not tolerate corruption in office.

At a press conference on Thursday, Karoonpon Tieansuwan, MFP deputy spokesman, said the party had received a complaint from officials in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives about the lack of budgeting transparency for an event dubbed “Rice Day and National Farmers”, which was held from June 5-7 at the department’s headquarters.

Mr Karoonpon said the budget request becomes even more suspicious when the event’s entire timeline is considered.

On Feb 20, the department earmarked 15 million baht to stage the event, which is aimed at sharing knowledge and best practices among rice farmers nationwide, at an event hall in Pathum Thani. A few weeks after, the department decided to hold the event at its headquarters, bringing down the budget needed to 7.5 million baht.

However, on May 9, it was decided that the event would be a three-day event instead of two. On the same day, the department revised its budget request to 12.5 million baht — a five-million-baht jump for organising an extra day of activities — a decision that was questioned by the complainants.

Later, the party discovered only one company out of the four invited took part in the bidding for the event. Mr Karoonpon said this company had won many contracts from the Department of Rice. Furthermore, a team of MFP members who visited the event said the number of visitors was far less than the 30,000 the department had claimed would attend the event in the bidding terms of references (TOR) and that many of the event’s participants had been paid to show up at the event.

The party had previously estimated that state-owned agencies had spent over a billion baht to organise events in a year.

“In a MFP-led government, it will not happen. Any improper budget must be cancelled, as they should be used to fund the country’s development and improve the quality of life,” he said.

Meanwhile, department chief, Nattakit Kongthip, said everything followed ministerial regulations and the cabinet resolution.

‘Stateless’ kids to stay in school

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

The Ministry of Education on Thursday guaranteed that all ethnic minority children at Thairath Wittaya 6 School in Ang Thong province are eligible to attend school despite their stateless status.

The assurance followed a ministry probe into claims that the children were relocated from a border town near Myanmar in the north to the Thairath Wittaya 6 School in Pa Mok district against their will.

Locals had filed complaints with the authorities about a large group of ethnic minority children being enrolled in the Thairath Wittaya 6 School, which only has two teachers, one director and one administrator, said provincial governor Rangsan Tancharoen.

However, Education Minister Treenuch Thienthong said on Thursday that she had received reports from the Office of the Basic Education Commission that all 124 students had been relocated from the North to Ang Thong to enrol in Thairath Wittaya 6 School.

According to the Ang Thong Primary Educational Service Area Office, a screening found that seven of the children held Thai citizenship, while the rest did not have proof of civil registration, she said.

The office has offered to help the children, she said. They will now reside in a school building and the Wat Sa Kaeo Orphan Aid Centre and continue their lessons until the investigation is complete, she said. “The Education Ministry guarantees that all children in Thailand are eligible to enrol in schools despite their race or nationality, a universal practice [under] to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”

To verify whether the children had entered Thailand legally, related agencies were assigned to investigate, she said. Reports showed that the smuggling of ethnic children involved people in various sectors, she said.

Authorities are probing possible human trafficking as all of the children were taken from Akha village on Doi Mae Salong in Chiang Rai province, a hill separating Thailand and Myanmar.

Pol Col Sakchai Kraiweeradechachai, superintendent at Pa Mok station in Ang Thong, told the press that the children could not speak Thai.

Calls for reforms to retain Thai nurses

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Around 10,000 new nurses graduate annually, yet up to 7,000 quit Thai state-run hospitals each year due to excessive workloads and inadequate pay for overtime, according to the nurses’ union and Nurses Connect.

The significant rate of nurse resignations serves as a basis for urging the new government to explore more effective strategies to retain a maximum number of nurses within the country’s state-run healthcare system.

Suwimol Namkanisorn, a representative of the nurse’s union and Nurses Connect, said the rate of new nurses resigning within their first year of work is now as high as 48.9%.

“There is no need to increase the number of newly trained nurses, but having effective new measures to retain nurses in the state-run healthcare system is crucial,” she said.

On average, these nurses work 80 hours per week, even though they are supposed to work at most 60 hours a week — as stated in a regulation by the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council, she said.

The total number of working hours of a nurse used to be around 48 per week, but as more and more nurses resigned, the workload became more excessive, she said.

“It would help if the new public health minister can gradually lower the average number of working hours of nurses at hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health’s jurisdiction from 80 to around 60 per week,” she said.

As for overtime work payment, she said while nurses working at hospitals under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) now receive 1,200 baht per eight-hour shift, those working for hospitals under the ministry are paid only between 650 and 800 baht per shift, she said.

Ms Suwimol added that overtime pay should be at the same (higher) rate across the board.

Phase 1 of high-speed rail ready âby 2026â

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Bangkok-Korat line part of a system that will ultimately reach Kunming

Fuxing Hao CR300AF trains, capable of carrying at least 600 passengers, are expected to be used on the Bangkok-Korat line.

The first phase of a high-speed railway that will eventually link the Chinese city of Kunming with Bangkok will be completed in 2026, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Thursday.

The 251-kilometre first-phase line will have six stops from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima: Bangsue Grand Station, Don Muang, Ayutthaya, Saraburi and Pak Chong.

The Fuxing Hao CR300AF train — capable of carrying at least 600 passengers — is expected to be used for the project, Mr Anucha said.

The project consists of 15 construction contracts: one for system construction and 14 for civil engineering work. Construction has been completed on just one contract, with 10 others under way and three others awaiting authorities’ signatures.

According to Mr Anucha, Chinese authorities have promised the Thai government to transfer knowledge related to high-speed railway construction, including materials, constructing rail lines on different kinds of terrain, station design, and bridge and tunnel construction.

“The railway will help to enhance the country’s economy and well-being,” he said.

The rail project has been beset by delays since it was first proposed to the government back in 2010.

One major sticking point was financing, with Thailand insisting that it would fund the project, as it did not want to repeat the experiences of other countries that had borrowed from China to fund megaprojects.

In Laos, Beijing paid 70% of the costs of the Vientiane-Boten high-speed rail line and much of the Lao government’s contribution came from loans from Chinese banks.

Escaping Myanmar scam gangs a challenge

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Government says it has repatriated 63 of 140 Thais who sought help

Many Thais cross over into the border town of Tachileik, lured by promises of high-paying work. (Photo: Solynn via Wikimedia Commons)

CHAING RAI: More than 140 Thais have sought help after being duped by online scam gangs to work in Myanmar’s Shan state since last year, and about 60 have been rescued so far, according to the Consular Affairs Department

Ruj Thammongkol, the department’s director-general, provided the update at a meeting on Wednesday with representatives of other groups seeking solutions to speed up the repatriation of victims.

Participants included Paveena Hongsakul, president of the Paveena Foundation for Children and Women, and officials from the Thai embassy in Yangon, the Chiang Rai Chamber of Commerce and the Migrant Worker Assistance Centre in Chiang Rai.

Many Thais are lured by online advertisements on social media promising higher wages and attractive welfare packages, said Pol Col Sanya Niumpradit, Police Attache of the Royal Thai Embassy in Myanmar.

However, they later became victims of scammers, with their passports taken, he said, adding that many had contacted the embassy for help.

Pym Chaiyasan, first secretary of the embassy, said most of the victims came from Thailand’s northeastern and central regions, and none were Chiang Rai residents.

Amnat Phalapleewan, director of the Thai Nationals Overseas Interests Protection Division of the Consular Department, said most of them reported having been lured to work illegally in Myanmar.

“About 140 people asked us for help but we have been able to repatriate only 63 of them so far,” he said. “The problem is that the rescue process can take about two to three months.”

Establishing an investigation centre to punish those who file false complaints to the division could reduce the rescue process to a few weeks, he said.

An immigration office in Chiang Rai also reported that Thais who were lured by criminals did not cross the border using the Mae Sai immigration checkpoint. Instead, they used natural crossings, which made it hard for officers to track them, it said.

According to a report by The Border Consortium (TBC), 11 out of 18 Thais, aged 20–30 years old, were rescued from call centre gangs from November to January, leaving the rest yet to be rescued.

It said the victims viewed recruitment ads on Facebook, Line and TikTok about working in the Myanmar border town of Tachileik, promising free food and accommodation and high pay.

However, after crossing, they were sent to other cities in Shan state to work for call centre gangs, it said.

Some of them were forced to sign contracts written in the Chinese language, it said, noting that they were abused while some of the women were forced to sell sex.

A similar message came from the Paveena Foundation for Children and Women, which said some of the women were forced to use drugs and became prostitutes while others were held for ransom.

Pro-Pita group wants complaints dismissed

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Demonstrators ask Election Commission to hurry up and endorse vote results so new government can get to work

A demonstrator holds a picture of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat during a rally at the Election Commission office in Lak Si district on Thursday afternoon, led by Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, right. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

A group of demonstrators on Thursday demanded the Election Commission dismiss all complaints against Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat and endorse official election results as soon as possible to pave the way for his government.

About 50 members of the June 24 Democracy group showed up at the office of the EC at the government complex on Chaeng Watthana Road on Thursday afternoon to voice their demands.

Their leader, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, said they wanted the EC to endorse the results of the May 14 polls immediately.

“As the EC has not verified 95% of the MP vote results, the opening of the House is delayed and the parliament cannot convene to elect the prime minister,” said Mr Somyot, who spent seven years in prison after being convicted of lese-majeste and defamation.

“This lets Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the caretaker prime minister and defence minister, head the government and remain in power.”

Attempts to block Mr Pita and the party that received overwhelming voter support from forming a government has resulted in an “ongoing political crisis”, Mr Somyot said. Move Forward Party received 14.44 million votes in the party-list poll, far ahead of second-place Pheu Thai with 10.96 million.

Mr Somyot’s group said the EC should not accept any of the complaints filed in connection with Mr Pita’s small shareholding in iTV Plc; otherwise, there could be mass demonstrations, he said.

The constitution prohibits a shareholder of a media organisation from running as an MP in a general election. iTV has not been actively involved in any kind of media business for more than 15 years.

“If the EC accepts the complaints for consideration, it will demonstrate its connection with coupmakers,” said Mr Somyot, noting that the EC was appointed by senators who in turn were installed by Gen Prayut and his allies.

Mr Pita held a very small amount of iTV shares and would be unable to influence the business in any way even if it was still involved in media, said Mr Somyot.

“Such petitions and their acceptance will be considered as ill intentioned and the destruction of democracy,” he added.

Mr Pita earlier admitted he had 42,000 shares in iTV but said he held them as the manager of his late father’s estate and had since transferred the shares to other people.

Mr Somyot also demanded that the EC endorse 95% of the MPs-elect, thus making the election official, by June 20 or as soon as possible. He said his group would return to the EC on June 20 if it did not see any progress.

The EC has said that it it is confident that it will be able to endorse the results more quickly than it did after the 2019 polls.

Under the law, the EC has 60 days from Election Day, or until July 13, to certify at least 95% of all MPs-elect to make the vote results official. In 2019, it completed this task on May 8, or 45 days after polling day. This year, the 45-day mark would fall on June 28.

Southern independence referendum movement watched

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Security agencies say student movement advocating ‘Patani State’ could be breaking the law

Soldiers man a security checkpoint near the city gate in Pattani municipality. (Post File Photo)

Security agencies are keeping a close watch on a group that has called for a public referendum on the independence of “Patani State” from Thailand, because doing so is tantamount to an act of separatism and unlawful, says the deputy commander of the 4th Army Region.

Maj Gen Pramote Prom-in said the referendum call was raised during an event held to introduce the “National Student Movement” or “Pelajar Bangsa” of the four southern border provinces, on the Pattani campus of Prince of Songkla University on Wednesday.

Although the students have the right to express their opinions, they should be careful not to transgress the laws and territorial sovereignty of the country, said Maj Gen Pramote, adding that security agencies had been keeping their activities under watch.

Maj Gen Pramote said the authorities are duty-bound to make people in society understand that such an expression of opinion was inappropriate, considering the sensitivity over security in the region that has long been plagued with insurgency.

The legal office of the 4th Army Region, which is responsible for the South, is considering taking legal action against the student movement, he added.

Maj Gen Pramote said that calling for a public referendum for the independence of “Patani State” (the spelling preferred by the movement) from Thailand is an act of separatism and prohibited by the law. Section 1 of the 2017 constitution stipulates that “Thailand is one and indivisible Kingdom”.

The Pelajar Bangsa movement is led by Irfan Uma. It was formed after the Federation of Patani students, or PerMAS, was dissolved on Nov 8, 2022.

The group organised a panel discussion on the “Right to Self-Determination” on Wednesday. The panelists included Assoc Prof Mark Tamthai of Payap University in Chiang Mai; Voravit Baru, an MP-elect for Pattani and deputy leader of the Prachachart Party; and Hakim Pongtiko, deputy secretary-general of the Fair Party, which has one member in the new coalition led by the Move Forward Party.

Local reports said that participants did not explicitly call for a referendum. But a placard put up at the venue said: “Do you agree with the right to self-determination or not, allowing the people of Patani to be able to legally vote in a referendum for independence?” with spaces for people to mark whether they agree or disagree.

Since January 2004, the southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, and occasionally Songkhla, have been the scene of sectarian armed conflict that has claimed over 7,000 lives, about 90% of them civilians.

The caretaker government has affirmed that it will continue its policy of negotiating for peace in the deep South despite the recent Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu-Patani (BRN) announcement that it would suspend peace talks until a new administration is formed.

Barkar Nash (Page 1,018)