Barkar Nash (Page 890)

Ex-premier’s petition expresses wish that he be allowed to use his experience to ‘benefit the nation’

His Majesty the King has granted a royal pardon to Thaksin Shinawatra, reducing the former prime minister’s combined jail sentence from eight years to one, according to an announcement published in the Royal Gazette on Friday.

The pardon, dated Aug 31, was countersigned by caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The 74-year-old billionaire inmate formally filed a petition for a royal pardon not long after he returned from 15 years of self-exile abroad on Aug 22.

On the day he returned, the Supreme Court ordered Thaksin jailed for eight years — three years concurrently in two cases, and five years in a third case — for conflict of interest and abuse of authority while prime minister in the early 2000s.

In the first case, Thaksin had been sentenced in absentia to three years for conflict of interest. The court said Thaksin had ordered the state-run Exim Bank to lend 4 billion baht at a below-cost interest rate to Myanmar so that it could buy products from Shin Satellite Plc, a company owned by his family.

In the second case, Thaksin was convicted of illegally launching a two- and three-digit lottery between 2003 and 2006. This was an abuse of power as the scheme was not supported by any legislation.

In the third case, the court sentenced Thaksin, who made his fortune in the telecoms industry, to five years for malfeasance in connection with the handling of telephone concessions and conflict of interest from 2001 and 2006 during his two terms as prime minister.

Since his return, Thaksin has served 10 days of his sentence — all but a few hours of it at the Police General Hospital, where he was transferred on health grounds shortly after reporting to the Bangkok Remand Prison on the afternoon of Aug 22.

Officially, he still has seven years, 11 months and 20 days of jail time remaining.

The petition to His Majesty stated that when Thaksin led the government, he made a lot of useful contributions to the country and the people. He was also loyal to the monarchy.

When he was indicted and the court handed down its jail sentences, “he respected the process, admitted his guilt, repented and accepted court verdicts”, the petition added.

“Now he is old and has illnesses that need care from medical professionals.”

The petition asked that the former leader be pardoned so that he can “use his knowledge, abilities and experience to help and benefit the nation, society and people in the future”.

According the text published in the Royal Gazette, His Majesty acknowledged the petition and granted a royal pardon.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, when asked on Friday about the matter, said he had not been informed that Thaksin had filed a petition for a pardon, saying it was the former premier’s personal affair.

Thaksin, too, had insisted his petition had nothing to do with politics.

His return to Thailand came on the same day that Mr Srettha was elected prime minister in parliament, at the head of a government led by the Pheu Thai Party, which Thaksin founded more than two decades ago.

The list of new cabinet members in the Pheu Thai-led government with Srettha Thavisin as prime minister has been forwarded to His Majesty the King for endorsement, a source at Government House reported on Friday.

The Secretariat of the Cabinet forwarded the list to the King on Friday after the Council of State checked the qualifications of some candidates on the list and found no problems with them.

It was earlier reported that one of the candidates requiring qualification clearance was Pichit Chuenban, a potential Prime Minister’s Office minister from the Pheu Thai Party. Mr Pichit had served jail time for contempt of court in connection with the so-called “cash-stuffed paper bag” scandal, in which he represented former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a controversial land case in 2008.

According to the source, the entire process is likely to be completed this week. The government plans to deliver its policy statement to parliament on Sept 8, and the first cabinet meeting is expected to take place on Tuesday, Sept 12.

Outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said earlier on Friday that there were no problems with the qualifications of the candidates in the cabinet line-up.

Khamphee Dithakorn, spokesman of the House of Representatives, said that after the new cabinet receives royal endorsement, the prime minister will lead them to have an audience with His Majesty for a swearing-in formality.

The prime minister will inform the House speaker (Wan Muhammad Nor Matha) once the policy statement has been finalised. The House speaker will then convene a joint session of parliament for the government to deliver the policy statement, Mr Khampee said.

When asked whether Sept 8 would be the date for the government to present its policy statement, Mr Khamphee said this is currently speculative, and the exact date has yet to be confirmed.

On Tuesday, Natthaporn Toprayoon, a lawyer and former adviser to the chief ombudsman, also sent a letter to Mr Srettha and the cabinet’s secretariat, calling on them to verify the qualifications of some others who are tipped to serve as cabinet ministers, namely, Bhumajaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul; Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) secretary-general Capt Thamanat Prompow; Suriya Jungrungreangkit of Pheu Thai; and Pheu Thai’s Somsak Thepsutin.

Mr Natthaporn said that Mr Anutin, who is tipped to serve as the interior minister, was accused by Pheu Thai’s secretary-general Prasert Chantararuanghtong during a no-confidence debate of dereliction of duty and lack of transparency in the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines. He also said Capt Thamanat is not fit to hold a cabinet post given his conviction and incarceration for a drug-related offence in Australia in the 1990s.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA – A wild elephant died on Thursday night at a cassava plantation in Khon Buri district. It had collapsed because of sickness and was found by villagers earlier that same night.

The male jumbo, approximately two years old and weighing 700-800 kilogrammes, was discovered at the plantation near Sap Sadao village in Moo 11, tambon Ban Mai, about three kilometres from Thap Lan National Park.

The animal had collapsed and was struggling for its life.

The discovery was subsequently reported to the Protected Area Regional Office 7 in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Veterinarian Pannarai Wongwatanakij led a team of vets and livestock officers to examine the elephant at the cassava plantation. The animal was found to be severely underweight and exhausted. The vets administered medication and saline drips, although the cause of its illness remained unknown.

Blood samples were taken from the elephant for a laboratory test to determine the underlying cause of its illness.

However, the elephant died at around 7pm on Thursday.

An autopsy will be conducted on the elephant to establish the cause of death before it is buried.

A team of vets injected the young elephant with saline solution but failed to save the animal. (Photo supplied / Prasit Tangprasert)

The new cabinet line-up will be submitted for royal endorsement today despite lingering doubts over the qualifications of some candidates.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Thursday that the cabinet line-up should be finalised and submitted for royal endorsement on Friday.

He said there was no need to worry about the candidates’ ethical conduct, as they were picked based on their qualifications, as required by law.

Mr Srettha also said the Council of State has been asked to verify the credentials of the candidates for cabinet posts. The council will issue its opinion today, he said.

“The candidates must be treated fairly. If the council says an individual qualifies for a certain post, then any lingering doubt about that person’s ability must be laid to rest,” he said.

One of the names in the line-up has attracted particular attention — that name is Pichit Chuenban, who worked as a lawyer for ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. His nomination raises questions about his eligibility to serve as a cabinet minister, as he served time in jail for contempt of court over an attempted bribery case when he represented Thaksin in a controversial land case back in 2008.

Pichit is tipped to become the PM’s Office Minister, according to sources.

On June 25, 2008, the Supreme Court sentenced Pichit and two of his colleagues to six months in prison after they tried to bribe Supreme Court officials by handing them a paper bag containing two million baht in cash a fortnight earlier.

All three represented Thaksin and his ex-wife, Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, in the Ratchadaphisek land case, for which Thaksin was sentenced to two years in prison in 2008.

On Tuesday, Natthaporn Toprayoon, a lawyer and former adviser to the chief ombudsman, also sent a letter to Mr Srettha and the cabinet’s secretariat, calling on them to verify the qualifications of some others who are tipped to serve as cabinet ministers, namely, Bhumajaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul; Palang Pracharath secretary-general Capt Thamanat Prompow; Suriya Jungrungreangkit of Pheu Thai; and Pheu Thai’s Somsak Thepsutin.

Mr Natthaporn said that Mr Anutin, who is tipped to serve as the interior minister, was accused by Pheu Thai’s secretary-general Prasert Chantararuanghtong during a no-confidence debate of dereliction of duty and lack of transparency in the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines. He also said Capt Thamanat is not fit to hold a cabinet post given his conviction and incarceration for a drug-related offence in Australia in the 1990s.

Powerful trio spend last day in office

The military trio regarded as the most powerful players in Thai politics over the last nine years literally waved goodbye to the political arena yesterday on their last day in office as key members of the outgoing cabinet.

Outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and outgoing Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda have frequently been referred to by Government House reporters as the three “Por” brothers or the “three Por Generals”.

The three Por brothers title stemmed from Gen Prayut’s and Gen Prawit’s first initial, P, while Gen Anupong’s P comes from the first letter of his nickname, Pok.

They are called brothers because they have spent years working closely together in the military and forged a strong bond that still lasts.

Gen Prawit, the eldest of the three, said yesterday he will resign as an MP but will remain as Palang Pracharath Party leader. Speaking to reporters before chairing a meeting of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand yesterday, Gen Prawit said: “Don’t ask me about politics. I will soon only be the party leader and will no longer be politically active.”

Asked to elaborate, he said, “I will resign soon,” but did not say when.

Asked whether he would only remain as party leader, he said, “That’s right.”

Next in line behind Gen Prawit on the PPRP party list is Santi Prompat, who has been tipped to become deputy public health minister in the Pheu Thai-led government. Mr Santi would replace Gen Prawit as an MP in the event he resigns.

Gen Prawit was all smiles yesterday and appeared in a good mood. He said: “Good luck to everyone” before walking into the reception room.

He also revealed that the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation located at the 1st Infantry Regiment, dubbed by the media as his political war room, has already been closed and will be operated as a non-political foundation.

Gen Prawit said he still feels energetic working in the field of sports. As for politics, he said he would rather leave it to other people, adding, “I have done a lot already. Now I want to do it for the party.”

Gen Prayut also said yesterday that it was his last day of work at Government House, but he would continue to serve in his caretaker role until the new cabinet’s inauguration.

After paying respects to the shrines at Government House yesterday morning, Gen Prayut told reporters that he would leave Government House for the sake of appropriateness.

Gen Prayut said he wished for blessings upon all and the nation’s peace and prosperity.

“I wish today is a good day for you,” Gen Prayut told reporters at Government House.

Gen Prayut, the then-army chief, staged a coup on May 22, 2014, amid unrest between pro- and anti-Yingluck Shinawatra government demonstrators. Days earlier, he imposed martial law. He was appointed prime minister in August of the same year.

Following a general election on March 24, 2019, Gen Prayut was elected prime minister by parliament.

Gen Prayut announced to decision to quit politics in July. Last week he outlined his administration’s achievements.

Gen Anupong, who has also declared an end to his political career, told reporters about his sincere belief in the power of the media in shaping and changing society, saying he would encourage members of the media to keep holding those with influence accountable no matter how Thai society evolves.

As for him, he said, it was time to take better care of his health and spend as much time as possible travelling to places where he had always wanted to go.

He said he would start with a trip to Japan.

“Some have told me it’s time for me to help raise a grandchild. But I don’t have any. My children are married, but they’ve refused to have kids,” he said.

Move Forward and Pheu Thai, the two largest parties, may agree in principle to rewrite the constitution, but the latter is not expected to push for a quick revision that could prompt an early election.

Both parties carry the election promise to deliver a new charter.

Most political parties see the current constitution as being flawed as it was drafted on the orders of the now-defunct coup engineer, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Former Pheu Thai leader Dr Cholnan Srikaew said on Aug 2 — when he still held the post — that the charter amendment must be prioritised as a top national agenda item.

He blamed the constitution for creating obstacles to forming a new government and sowing the seeds of a national crisis. The coup-appointed Senate serves as a case in point, as it is allowed by a provisional clause in the charter to co-elect a prime minister.

Critics argue that since the senators were not elected, they should have no role in this decision.

Dr Cholnan said the first meeting of the new cabinet would discuss whether to organise a referendum on the desire for a charter amendment, as well as the establishment of a charter-rewriting body composed of elected members.

He said once the charter has been overhauled, a general election would be called.

During the four years of the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration, efforts to amend the constitution proved an exercise in futility.

Some senators and coalition parties asked the Constitutional Court to rule on whether parliament could rewrite it in its entirety.

In 2021, the charter court declared that two criteria must be met before this could happen.

Specifically, two referendums must be held — with the first one asking people if they want the charter amended. If the first referendum is approved, a second would follow to let people decide on whether to give the new version the green light.

One political pundit who declined to be named said Pheu Thai would be incentivised to delay finishing any redrafting of the charter, a process that is already estimated to take two to three years.

Once the rewrite is complete, the Move Forward Party (MFP) is likely to pile pressure on Pheu Thai to dissolve the House and call for a snap election so the new constitution can be implemented.

Other coalition parties seem to be on the same page as Pheu Thai on the need for a rewrite, but they advised against rushing the process.

And most are vehemently opposed to changing the definition of Thailand as a single, indivisible kingdom with a democratic regime and the King as the head of state, or any challenges to the lese-majeste law or other royal prerogatives.

Yutthaporn Issarachai, a political scientist at Sukhothai Thammarat Open University, told the Bangkok Post that Pheu Thai has a better chance of pushing through a charter rewrite than the MFP, which is seen as too radical.

He said any amendments would therefore be limited.