Barkar Nash (Page 1,057)

Exiled former PM says generals should retire ‘with dignity’, reiterates plan to come home in July

Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday hailed the election-winning Move Forward Party as disruptors who had mastered social media, and said the ageing army generals central to years of turmoil should retire with dignity.

The self-exiled tycoon also waded into the growing debate over the sensitive lese-majeste law, which Move Forward wants to amend, saying Pheu Thai would not back any action that could harm the monarchy.

Move Forward, he said in a Clubhouse chat on Tuesday, proved that social media and user-generated content (UGC) can triumph over big-spending campaigns and vote-buying.

Before Sunday’s vote, the populist political juggernaut founded by Thaksin had won every election since 2001, despite being ousted from office three times. On Sunday it won 11 seats less than Move Forward, which received 14.2 million votes for party-list MPs, versus 10.8 million for Pheu Thai. Even in several provinces where it did not win many constituencies, Move Forward won more list votes than any other party.

“They used UGC on TikTok because the youngsters use TikTok. It’s getting votes and canvassers organically and you don’t use a lot of resources,” Thaksin said during a two-hour political discussion streamed online.

Move Forward had strong appeal and organisation in university towns, he said, adding many young people convinced their parents to vote for Move Forward.

“Pheu Thai got hammered because we did not disrupt ourselves enough. Move Forward’s trend overcame Pheu Thai and the other parties that had money,” he said.

Move Forward rode a wave of excitement among young people attracted to its liberal agenda and promises of bold change, including tackling monopolies and amending a law that prescribes long jail sentences for insulting the monarchy, long a taboo issue.

Pheu Thai has agreed to form a six-party alliance with Move Forward, hoping more will join to keep the defeated pro-military parties out of government.

Thaksin still wields significant influence over the second-ranked party despite being in exile for 17 years to avoid a jail sentence for abuse of power, which he denies. He reiterated his plan to return to Thailand in July and asked about prison said: “Whatever will be, will be.”

He also pledged loyalty to the palace and stressed Pheu Thai would not back any actions by Move Forward that would have a negative impact on the monarchy.

Move Forward and Pheu Thai on Sunday trounced the parties fronted by Gen Prawit Wongsuwon and Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, who led the 2014 coup that ousted the government of Thaksin’s sister Yingluck.

No ‘secret deal’

Thaksin dismissed speculation of a secret deal with one of those generals to form a government, calling it an attempt to discredit Pheu Thai using online trolls. He said it was an “information operation” (IO) and hinted that Move Forward might have had something to do with it, something the party strenuously denied.

He also noted that Move Forward even won support in districts with large concentrations of rank-and-file soldiers, highlighting generational differences over the military’s political role.

“For the two uncles, it should be enough is enough,” he said, referring to Gen Prawit and Gen Prayut. “Hanging up your gloves has dignity.

“It’s a wake-up call for the army. Using excessive power is something Thai society rejects. So it added to Move Forward’s currency.”

Meanwhile, he distanced his family from Move Forward’s plans to ease rules outlawing criticism of the royal family.

“The stance of the Pheu Thai Party and the Shinawatra family is we respect and love the institution of the monarchy,” Thaksin said, responding to a question about how the party doesn’t touch issues on the royal family.

“How others perceive it is not something I can control. I am who I am, and I am open to criticism because I’m not fighting to do anything bad to the monarchy. I’m only fighting for political wins.”

Thaksin’s stance draws a line in the sand on an issue that has faced staunch resistance within the political establishment. While pro-democracy groups like Pheu Thai are eager to return to government, they’re also cautious not to provoke a strong reaction from military factions that led two coups against them in the past decade.

Move Forward aims to propose two key amendments to Section 112. One would reduce the current harsh sentences, currently three to 15 years’ imprisonment. The second would require that only the Bureau of the Royal Household could file a royal defamation complaint. Currently, anyone can file a complaint against anyone else and police must investigate it.

Finally, Thaksin reiterated that he was ready to return home, even if it means doing jail time.

“I’ve made my decision. I don’t care about anything else,” he said, reiterating earlier remarks that he plans to come home in July. “I’ve been overseas for 17 years, it’s like being in a big prison.” 

Suspect had just turned 14 when alleged offence took place, making her the youngest on record

A teenage girl from Phitsanulok has been released on bail after being formally charged with royal defamation, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

The alleged offence took place when the girl, who is now 16, was 14 years and one month old, making her the youngest person ever charged under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese-majeste law, the lawyers’ group said on Wednesday.

Police investigators said that the girl, identified only as “May”, used Facebook on the night of Nov 18, 2020 to post messages online making comments deemed insulting to His Majesty the King. A member of the public, Naengnoi Asavakittikorn, saw the messages and filed a complaint with police.

Police officers at the Muang Phitsanulok station issued a summons on June 4, 2021 for May to be questioned, but only as a witness, as a formal charge had not been drawn up yet.

She complied, but said later that the experience had been very upsetting. Subsequently, she said, Special Branch police officers visited her home, and she occasionally observed plainclothes police officers in front of the house and at her school. Finally she quit school and left Phitsanulok to live in Bangkok.

On Monday of this week she and her parents travelled from Bangkok to answer another summons at the Phitsanulok Provincial Police station. She denied all the allegations. Later that day, she appeared in Phitsanulok Juvenile and Family Court, where police applied to have her detained. However, they did not object to bail, which the court granted, noting she had complied with the summons. She was released on a surety of 20,000 baht put up by her parents.

According to TLHR, May is the 19th juvenile accused under Section 112 since 2020. Four of them were under 15 years old when the alleged offences were committed, and 15 were aged between 15 and 18.

The most high-profile case is that of a Bangkok teenager identified as Thanalop or “Yok”, who on Wednesday marked her 50th day in detention at a juvenile facility in Nakhon Pathom.

In her case, the Central Juvenile and Family Court issued a statement last week in response to criticism of her detention. It said that the girl’s mother had failed to appear for her bail, which led to her extended stay in the Ban Pranee Juvenile Vocational Training Centre for Girls.

The charges against Yok sparked a violent protest at the Samran Rat police station on May 10. Demonstrators spray-painted the stairs, walls and police vehicles and broke doors, and a subsequent clash with police officers led to nine arrests. Seven men and two women appeared in court on charges including damaging public property, and were subsequently released on bail.

According to data from TLHR to April 30 this year, 1,902 people have been prosecuted for political participation and expression since the beginning of the Free Youth pro-democracy protests in July 2020. At least 242 are facing lese-majeste charges and 130 have been charged with sedition.

MFP candidate has lost seat she won in Sunday’s election

The Min Buri Court has sentenced Nateepat Kulsetasit, a Move Forward Party list MP-elect, to two months in jail, suspended for two years, and fined her 4,000 baht for drink-driving.

She was charged by prosecutors with driving while drunk early Tuesday morning in violation of the Land Traffic Act of 1979 and Automobile Act of 1979.

The court late on Tuesday found her guilty as charged and sentenced her to two months in prison and a 4,000 baht fine. The prison term was suspended for two years.

She was also required to report to probation officials every four months for one year and perform public services for a total of 12 hours. Her driver’s licence was suspended for six months.

Early on Tuesday, Ms Nateepat, 46, was stopped at a police checkpoint on Prasert Manukit Road in Lat Phrao district of Bangkok. An alcohol breath test showed 66 milligrammes of alcohol per 100ml of blood, above the threshold of 50mg.

Ms Nateepat subsequently resigned as an MP candidate on the party list, on which she was No.27 and would have taken a seat in the House of Representatives.

She apologised to the public and regretted her actions because she had disappointed people and would not be able to perform the duties of an MP and to vote for the same-sex marriage legislation that she had pushed for.

On Wednesday, Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Constitution, sent a letter to the Election Commission (EC). He asked the EC, as the political party registrar, to order the MFP to comply with the Political Party Act in Ms Nateepat’s case.

Section 22 of the Political Party Act requires the executive committees of all parties to oversee their members’ conduct. In this case, the MFP’s executive committee must report the offence committed by Ms Nateepat to the political party registrar within seven days of the offence.

Since Ms Nateepat had violated items 25 (2) and (6) of the MFP’s regulation, the party executive committee was duty-bound to take punitive action against her, he said.

If the MFP failed to do this, the political party registrar would be duty-bound to recommend the EC board remove the entire MFP executive committee, Mr Srisuwan said in the letter.

Ready for talks, with coalition plans in tow

The Move Forward Party (MFP) is trying to convince senators to back its leader Pita Limjaroenrat to become prime minister as it bids to gather support from other parties to form a coalition government.

The party has been critical of the coup-appointed Senate and sought to “switch off “or remove its power in joining MPs to select a prime minister as stipulated by the constitution.

But it has now made an about-face and has to seek the Senate’s backing.

When a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate is convened to elect a prime minister, under the 2017 constitution, at least 376 votes would be needed for his endorsement.

This means Mr Pita would need more votes from other parties or senators.

MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon said the party is ready to meet senators for talks to allay any concerns they may have.

“Senators’ concerns may be unfounded. If we can talk, they should be eased,” Mr Chaithawat said.

“I am confident there are some senators who are mature enough and wouldn’t want to see a political impasse,” he said.

Some senators previously expressed concern about the MFP’s desire to revise or scrap Section 112 of the charter, the lese majeste law.

Asked who would become the House Speaker, Mr Chaithawat said the role should be filled by a member of the MFP as it won the most House seats.

Asked whether it has approached the Chartthaipattana Party to join a coalition, Mr Chaithawat said Mr Pita on Monday announced a plan to form a coalition government comprising five former opposition parties and one new party, with a combined 310 MPs and himself as prime minister.

The six parties are the MFP, Pheu Thai, Thai Sang Thai, Prachachart, Seri Ruam Thai and the Fair Party.

A source said Mr Chaithawat will today meet key figures from these parties to discuss the formation of a coalition government.

On Facebook, Srettha Thavisin, a Pheu Thai candidate for prime minister, yesterday called on other parties, particularly the Bhumjaithai Party and the Democrats, to support Mr Pita for prime minister without the need for the support of senators.

Mr Srettha noted that he hoped all parties would respect the public mandate by voting for Mr Pita.

“I, for one, support Mr Pita of the Move Forward Party to take the position with grace,” he wrote.

He noted that many parties, particularly Bhumjaithai and the Democrats, previously announced their opposition to the 2017 constitution’s empowering of senators to take part in the vote for prime minister.

“Now it’s time for you to confirm your stance by voting for Mr Pita to be the 30th prime minister in a true democracy, without having to rely on votes from the 250 senators,” he added.

Responding to Mr Pita’s calls for other parties’ support, former House speaker Chuan Leekpai said: “Don’t expect others to think the same way. Each party can think for itself.”

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said a new coalition government could be formed on the basis of mutual respect and courteous negotiations.

“Any wish can come true when generosity is offered in exchange,” he added.

“The formation of the new government is now the burden of the Move Forward Party, which won the highest number of House seats,” he said.

The senators are entitled to their own points of view, but their positions should be negotiable, he said.

He said the Election Commission would verify the election results within two months, after which the House will be called into session and the parliament president appointed.

Group wants official numbers out fast

The We Watch group has called on the Election Commission (EC) to hurry up with the vote count and officially announce the poll results soon so the new government can be formed and get to work quickly.

The group of young poll monitors announced yesterday the EC should not dawdle but make the official poll results known much earlier than the deadline.

The law permits the EC to release the official poll results within 60 days of the election.

Pongsak Chan-on, the We Watch director, said the 60-day window could delay the formation of the new government and hold back the country’s affairs.

It would be best if the EC were able to wrap up its work and get the results out within seven days of the polls, he said.

As of yesterday afternoon, 99% of the 39 million votes cast nationwide had been counted, according to the EC’s official website https://www.ectreport.com/overview

The We Watch group said it had sent members to keep an eye on many polling stations across all 77 provinces on Sunday.

Krit Saengsurin, We Watch’s information officer, said the group did not end up encountering any “critical” problems with the election.

However, Mr Krit said the group had found shortcomings such as a lack of facilities for disabled voters at polling stations in provinces including Chumphon, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani and Bangkok.

We Watch added there were few facilities for wheelchair-bound voters and a lack of machines to help those who are blind or deaf in handling their ballots.

On the whole, the group said it was also unfair that the law omits the voting rights of monks, people with mental conditions and inmates.

In addition, the allocation of different campaign numbers for the two ballots — one for selecting constituency candidates and the other for parties — was also confusing, according to We Watch.

Also, the names of people were mixed up in the house registrations, and some voters’ names have remained registered at their old houses despite the data transfer having been completed.

The group has vowed to keep on monitoring the work of the EC until the new government is officially up and running.