Barkar Nash – Page 910

Graft-busters refuse to turn over Prawit watch details

On: August 10, 2023

NACC chief says full disclosure could endanger witnesses in case filed against deputy PM

PUBLISHED : 10 Aug 2023 at 18:16

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is still refusing to reveal some information related to the luxury watch controversy concerning caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.

The Supreme Administrative Court has given the NACC until Friday to disclose all the facts that it used to support its decision to clear Gen Prawit of failing to declare all his assets.

However, the anti-graft body intends to petition against the order because complete disclosure could compromise the safety of witnesses and discourage witnesses in other cases, NACC secretary-general Niwatichai Kasemmongkol said on Thursday

He said he would give an explanation to activist Veera Somkwamkid, who earlier demanded the information disclosure in the case.

After meeting Mr Niwatichai, Mr Veera said he was given only facts gathered from the investigation and minutes of NACC meetings concerning the case. He was not provided with the opinions of the NACC officials who handled the case.

The NACC secretary-general cited the need for witness protection as a reason for withholding the details, Mr Veera said.

The documents he received were partly redacted, which Mr Niwatichai attributed to a decision by the NACC, Mr Veera said.

The activist said the NACC and its secretary-general would have to take responsibility for disobeying the court’s order.

Earlier Mr Veera filed a petition with the Central Administrative Court demanding disclosure of the investigation following the NACC’s dismissal of the complaint against Gen Prawit in December 2018.

The commission ruled 5:3 that there were no grounds for the accusation that Gen Prawit had falsely declared his wealth when he did not include 22 luxury watches and rings in his list of assets.

The investigation was launched not long after Gen Prawit was spotted wearing a platinum Richard Mille RM 029 wristwatch valued at about 2.5 million baht and a diamond ring at a Government House event on Dec 4, 2017.

These items and other watches that came to light later were omitted from Gen Prawit’s asset declaration to the NACC.

Gen Prawit claimed the luxury watches belonged to a friend, who had since died, and had all been returned.

The NACC has three sets of documents related to the case and has disclosed two of them. The third set involves the opinions of NACC officials.

Mr Veera said earlier that he wanted to ask the new government how to amend laws to make the NACC a truly independent agency that would be open to scrutiny and transparent, in keeping with its motto.

Most MFP backers âoppose voting for Pheu Thai PM pickâ

By: Barkar Nash

On: August 10, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Election-winning party says it will take its direction from the people who gave it 14 million votes

Most MFP backers ‘oppose voting for Pheu Thai PM pick’ — Angry demonstrators approach the gate of the parliament complex after learning of the Constitutional Court’s order to suspend Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat from duty as an MP on July 19. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

The majority of Move Forward Party (MFP) supporters do not approve of the party voting for the prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai Party, according to some senior Move Forward members.

The party cited results of internal opinion polls conducted by MPs showing that at least 95% of supporters are against supporting Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate in parliament.

Senior Pheu Thai figures, led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of party patriarch Thaksin Shinawatra, visited the MFP head office on Wednesday to seek support for its candidate, expected to be real estate billionaire Srettha Thavisin. Ms Paetongtarn and Chaikasem Nitisiri are the other two candidates.

Move Forward leaders gave no answer, saying they were awaiting more feedback from the people who gave the party more than 14 million votes in the May 14 general election.

On Thursday, MFP list-MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn wrote on Facebook that the party must not vote in a way that opens the door to the legacy of dictatorship to re-enter government.

He was referring to the “uncles” parties: Palang Pracharath (PPRP) led by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and United Thai Nation (UTN), for which Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha formerly served as chief adviser.

The MFP insists that the two army generals, who had prominent roles in the 2014 coup and the National Council for Peace and Order that ran the country until 2019, maintain a firm grip on their respective parties.

Mr Wiroj’s remark came amid growing speculation that either or both parties could be invited to join the new Pheu Thai-led coalition.

Mr Wiroj said the very people Pheu Thai should reach out to were its red shirt supporters who have fought to defend Pheu Thai’s political cause for almost 20 years.

Pheu Thai has been accused of ignoring the wishes of many red shirts who wanted to see it and Move Forward, along with other parties in the so-called pro-democracy camp, form a government together.

Pheu Thai is now pressing ahead with the government formation effort with the Bhumjaithai and Chartthaipattana parties as well as six small parties agreeing to be part of the new coalition lineup.

The new coalition now commands 238 MP seats, which still falls 13 seats short of a simple majority in the 500-seat House of Representatives. Pheu Thai has said it will have at least 250 MP votes when the time comes to choose the new prime minister, which could come as soon as late next week.

Pheu Thai is expected to approach at least one more party from the previous government bloc to join. Those not invited so far are the PPRP, UTN and the Democrat Party. The latter has been in disarray for weeks, having made two failed attempts to choose a new leader.

Even with those three parties in the lineup, Mr Srettha would still need the support of some senators to win a prime ministerial vote.

Pheu Thai’s original plan was to persuade the MFP to back Mr Srettha. That way, the votes of senators would not be required to produce a majority at a combined House and Senate sitting.

Mr Wiroj said that as far as he was concerned, Move Forward would be neglecting its own supporters’ mandate if it voted for Pheu Thai’s candidate.

‘Pheu Thai does have a choice’

He added that Pheu Thai should not use an MFP refusal to back Mr Srettha as an excuse to turn to the “uncles” parties for support.

“Pheu Thai does have a choice. There’s always the eight-party alliance to fall back on,” he said, referring to previous coalition pact with Move Forward at its head.

However, that coalition collapsed because almost no senators would vote for Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, saying his party’s plan to amend the sensitive lese-majeste law was a deal-breaker.

Many individual Move Forward MPs this week have been conducting yes/no mini-polls on social media about voting for a Pheu Thai candidate. The results are 90-95% opposed, but it cannot be verified whether these “votes” come from constituents, and whether people voted more than once.

Natthapol Towijakchaikul, an MFP MP for Chiang Mai, said he organised an online survey which found 95% disapproved of the party getting behind Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate.

“We’re all ears to the voice of the people,” he said.

Some supporters, he added, were stressed about the country carrying on without a fully functioning government for months. However, they were prepared to wait further.

Move Forward earlier suggested the prime ministerial selection be put on hold until May next year when the current senators’ power to electing a prime minister will expire. Mr Pita could then be voted in as premier without an obstacle.

The next Senate will not have the power to vote for a PM, something that was outlined in “provisonal clause” inserted into the constitution by the Prayut government after the public approved the 2017 charter in a referendum.

Prasertpong Sornnuwat, another MFP MP, admitted party supporters in some constituencies were split over whether to support Mr Srettha for prime minister.

Iraqi held for overstaying visa for 15 years

By: Barkar Nash

On: August 10, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Man found in Kanchanaburi guesthouse faces 10-year ban from re-entering country

PUBLISHED : 10 Aug 2023 at 16:05

KANCHANABURI: An Iraqi man has been arrested in this border province for overstaying his visa by almost 15 years.

Immigration police arrested Oday Jabbar Khudhair, 43, at a local guesthouse on Thursday, said Pol Col Korn Somkhanae, chief of the Kanchanaburi immigration office. He did not say what district the guesthouse was located in.

The arrest followed a complaint that a foreign national had been acting suspiciously and might have committed an immigration offence, authorities said. He had reportedly moved from another part of the country to stay in Kanchanaburi.

Pol Col Korn led immigration police officers to the guesthouse where they found Mr Khudhair. A check of his passport showed his visa had expired on Aug 21, 2008.

Mr Khudhair was charged with overstaying his visa by 5,468 days and detained for legal proceedings.

The fine for overstaying a visa is 500 baht per day but the maximum has been set at 20,000 baht.

For more serious cases, an overstayer will be deported and banned from re-entering Thailand for a certain period. Those overstaying for more than 5 years will be banned from entering the country for 10 years.

King’s second son ‘Than Aon’ makes merit at Wat Yannawa

By: Barkar Nash

On: August 10, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 10 Aug 2023 at 13:44

Vacharaesorn “Than Aon” Vivacharawongse, the second eldest son of His Majesty the King, made merit at Wat Yannawa in Bangkok’s Sathon district on Thursday, following his surprise arrival in Thailand on Sunday evening.

Vacharaesorn, 42, arrived at the royal temple on Charoen Krung Road with his friends. They were welcomed by Phra Tham Wachiramolee, abbot of Wat Yannawa, and Phra Khru Arthornprasittisophon, assistant abbot.

Many Thai and foreign media members waited in the temple compound to cover him. Thai people who heard about his visit flocked to the temple to welcome him.

Vacharaesorn lit a candle and incense sticks to pay respect to Buddha statues and then gave food offerings to 130 Buddhist monks and novices at the temple’s Dhamma learning school. The abbot then presented him with a replica of Phra Sampao Yannawa, a 16-inch Buddha statue.

Than Aon, fondly called by Thais, then went to the temple’s pier along the Chao Phraya River to make merit by releasing 1,000 fish into the river. He paid tribute to the monument of His Majesty King Nangklao (Rama III) before leaving the temple.

Vacharaesorn is on a visit to the kingdom after living abroad for 27 years.

Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse offers food to a novice at Wat Yannawa in Sathon district, Bangkok, on Thursday. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)

He reportedly departed from the John F Kennedy airport in the United States on Aug 5 on board a Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong, where he took a connecting flight that landed at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province on Sunday evening. It was reported that he would stay in the country for about a week.

Upon his arrival, he paid respect to the Supreme Patriarch at Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram Ratchaworawihan in Phra Nakhon district on Monday morning and then paid homage to the City Pillar before moving on to Wat Phra Kaew, or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and Wat Hong Rattanaram Ratchaworawihan.

He also visited a childcare centre for underprivileged children in Bangkok and donated necessary items to the centre.

Vacharaesorn, who holds both bachelor’s and master’s decrees in law from Stetson University College of Law in the US, is second of the four sons of His Majesty the King and his former consort Sujarinee Vivacharawongse. Their younger sister is Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya.

Vacharaesorn on Wednesday posted photos with children at the Foundation for Slum Child Care (FSCC) in Bangkok with a message “The value of heritage comes from its inheritors.” Great pleasure to support FSCC. (Photo: Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse’s Facebook)

[embedded content]

Chatthaipattana joins Pheu Thai-led coalition

By: Barkar Nash

On: August 10, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 10 Aug 2023 at 12:15

The Pheu Thai Party has welcomed the Chatthaipattana Party, along with its 10 MPs, into its coalition, raising the number of House seats held by the coalition to 238 out of the total 500.

Both parties on Thursday morning expressed their commitment to seeking cooperation from all political parties and the Senate for the election of a new prime minister and the formation of a new government.

Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said during a joint statement at the parliament that the country is in a unique political situation and all parties needed to join forces to address constitutional issues, economic challenges and social conflicts.

The two parties urged the public to have confidence in their alliance, which is intended to bring the Thai society back to normal quickly.

Chartthaipattana leader Varawut Silpa-archa said he thanked Pheu Thai for inviting his party to the coalition. Chatthaipattana was happy to accept the invitation and become a coalition partner, he said.

Mr Varawut cited shared policies and perspectives between Pheu Thai and Chartthaipattana and expressed confidence in Pheu Thai’s potential to lead the upcoming administration.

With the inclusion of Chartthaipattana, the Pheu Thai-led coalition alliance now consists of nine parties. Earlier Pheu Thai withdrew from its previous eight-party coalition with the May 14 general election winner Move Forward Party (MFP). The MFP had 151 House seats while Pheu Thai came second with 141 seats.

Pheu Thai later teamed up with the Bhumjaithai Party, which came third in the election with 71 House seats. On Wednesday Pheu Thai announced its coalition had six more political parties.

In the press conference, Pheu Thai leader Cholnan said that the previous eight-coalition alliance with Move Forward with a total of 312 House seats failed to form a government despite the best efforts from Pheu Thai.

Tne Pheu Thai-led coalition would have a majority vote in the 500-seat House before the parliament vote for prime minister, said Mr Cholnan.

Pheu Thai deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai said Pheu Thai representatives’ meeting with the election-winning Move Forward Party (MFP) on Wednesday was not an invitation for the MFP to join the coalition government. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate and daughter of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, also attended the meeting.

Chartthaipattana joins Pheu Thai-led coalition

By: Barkar Nash

On: August 10, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Pheu Thai leader says all parties should join hands to solve pressing problems in the country

PUBLISHED : 10 Aug 2023 at 12:15

UPDATED : 10 Aug 2023 at 14:52

The Pheu Thai Party has welcomed the Chartthaipattana Party, along with its 10 MPs, into its coalition, raising the number of House seats held by the coalition to 238 out of the total 500.

The two parties urged the public to have confidence in their alliance, which is intended to bring the Thai society back to normal quickly.

Chartthaipattana leader Varawut Silpa-archa said he thanked Pheu Thai for inviting his party to the coalition. Chartthaipattana was happy to accept the invitation and become a coalition partner, he said.

Mr Varawut cited shared policies and perspectives between Pheu Thai and Chartthaipattana and expressed confidence in Pheu Thai’s potential to lead the upcoming administration.

With the inclusion of Chartthaipattana, the alliance now consists of nine parties. Earlier Pheu Thai withdrew from its previous eight-party coalition with the May 14 general election winner Move Forward Party (MFP). The MFP had 151 House seats while Pheu Thai came second with 141 seats.

Pheu Thai later teamed up with the Bhumjaithai Party, which came third in the election with 71 House seats. On Wednesday Pheu Thai announced its coalition had six more political parties.

The Pheu Thai-led coalition would have a majority of votes in the 500-seat House before the parliament vote for prime minister, said Mr Cholnan.

The vote could take place next week depending on the outcome of a Constitutional Court meeting on Aug 16 to review a petition against an earlier decision by parliament to block the renomination of MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat.

Pheu Thai deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai said that Pheu Thai representatives’ meeting with the MFP on Wednesday was not an invitation for the latter to join the coalition government. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate and daughter of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, also attended the meeting. The talks were inconclusive.

Pheu Thai is hopeful that Move Forward MPs will vote for the new coalition’s prime ministerial candidate even though the party is now almost certain to be in the opposition.

A meeting of Move Forward MPs resolved earlier this week that each member should seek the views of his or her constituents about whether they believe the party should support the Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate.

Many Move Forward MPs have been using their social media platforms, notably X (formerly Twitter), to conduct polls among their constituents. So far, a large majority of the responses have been opposed to the party voting for the Pheu Thai PM candidate.

New ban puts homeless in jeopardy

By: Barkar Nash

On: August 10, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Once the winner of a six-million-baht lottery prize, Uan, whose last name is not disclosed, ended up homeless on Ratchadamnoen Avenue when her money dried up.

The 53-year-old woman told the Bangkok Post she was earlier working as a taxi driver. Ms Uan was struggling with the rising cost of living including petrol prices, and her income was not enough to pay for the taxi’s daily rent and home rental.

Fortunately, Ms Uan won the lottery, and was able to buy her former house with it. She put her grandmother’s name down as the legal owner. That move was to have nasty consequences later.

Ms Uan’s situation worsened when her grandmother fell ill. She said her grandmother was suffering from many diseases, such as cancer. The money left from buying the house was used up paying medical bills.

Before her grandmother died, she transferred rights over the house to Uan’s brother. After her death, Uan’s brother decided to sell the house, resulting in Uan losing her home and ending up on the streets.

Ms Uan added that she has been living on Ratchadamnoen Avenue — an area in Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok known to be packed with homeless people — for three months.

Ms Uan’s experience is one example of the many homeless people living on Ratchadamnoen Avenue. The Bangkok Post talked to them to find out why they are homeless and hear their response to a ban on their sleeping there.

No sleeping on streets

The Phra Nakhon District Office has announced that it will no longer allow the homeless to sleep on Ratchadamnoen Avenue from September onwards.

According to the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, there were 2,499 homeless people in Thailand in 2023, 1,217 in Bangkok alone. Data also shows that 500-600 of these homeless people in the capital occupy areas in Phra Nakhon district.

Fences along Ratchadamnoen Avenue are to be put up to bar homeless people from sleeping on the road and prevent hoarders from littering.

Some believe the authorities would like to improve the city’s landscape and enforce safety for pedestrians and locals.

However, it is inevitable that some people view the regulation as a type of window dressing that will only push the homeless out of one area and into another.

Fencing off the area

Tip Sakda, 52, told the Bangkok Post that he has spent six years living as a homeless man in Phra Nakhon district, in Sake Alley on Assadang Road. He said he had conflicts with his family and decided to leave for good.

Social workers informed him about the fences which will be installed soon. They told him to move to a new place, a plan Mr Tip admitted he was not yet prepared to execute.

Mr Tip said he wants public agencies to offer homeless people a proper shelter and job opportunities. Many suffer from chronic illnesses without access to healthcare.

“In the past, some homeless men fell ill but they did not receive treatment. Some were later found dead on the streets,” Mr Tip added.

Like many other people who lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic two years ago, Pai Sontiwong, 44, said he was also laid off during that time. Lacking a stable income to afford the rent, Mr Pai had no choice but to hit the streets.

He said he usually wanders around Sanam Luang or Rattanakosin Hotel. He goes to Sake Alley every day and waits for food donations, philanthropic NGOs or individuals who help the homeless.

When asked about the fence plan for Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Mr Pai said the regulation would prove difficult for him and he is not prepared to move.

Mr Pai said agencies should offer more help to the homeless. The Mirror Foundation has a programme for homeless people to sign up for job opportunities and cheap apartments; however, Mr Pai said the scope of work is still small compared to the number of homeless in Phra Nakhon district.

Drop-in stations

The Bangkok Metropolitan Admi- nistration (BMA) and its network has established two drop-in stations in Sake Alley and under Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge (on the Phra Nakhon district side).

Officials from the BMA, National Health Security Office, Ministry Of Social Development and Human Security, Department of Social Development and Welfare and charitable foundations are based at the drop-in spots.

They offer assistance on healthcare, welfare for the elderly or people with disabilities, laundry services, bathrooms, job employment and apartments.

Reports said the BMA is also discussing bringing back emergency shelters for the homeless at a building next to Chaloem Wan Chat Bridge in Phra Nakhon district.

The project is a joint one between the BMA and Mirror Foundation to offer training and allowances to homeless people, helping them get jobs and prevent them from returning into a cycle of homelessness.

The emergency shelters would mitigate ongoing harm against homeless people where scammers trick them into opening up mule accounts, an act punishable by imprisonment.

Sittipon Chuprajong from the Mirror Foundation said some groups of men extort money from homeless people.

They also hire the homeless for 500 baht to open bank accounts or mule accounts.

Many homeless people have been arrested by police and jailed.

Mr Sittipon said these groups usually roam Ratchadamnoen Avenue and other places in Phra Nakhon district.

“The causes which force people to become homeless remain unchanged. Some lost their jobs and were unable to support their family, leading to conflicts at home making them feel like a burden to family members.

They cannot return to the workforce because of their age in many cases so have to leave the house,” he said.

The BMA, the Mirror Foundation and their network are pushing projects to offer jobs and cheap apartments for the homeless people as well as helping them gain access to state welfare.

Talks with MFP on Srettha ‘inconclusive’

By: Barkar Nash

On: August 9, 2023

In: South-East Asia

The Move Forward Party (MFP) gave no clear answer on Wednesday as to whether it will vote for the Pheu Thai Party’s prime ministerial candidate in parliament, according to Paetongtarn Shinawatra, head of the Pheu Thai Party Family.

Pheu Thai, led by Ms Paetongtarn and other party heavyweights, including its leader Cholnan Srikaew, deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai, and secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangthong, met the MFP for talks on Wednesday.

The Pheu Thai team walked from their office on Phetchaburi Road to the MFP’s headquarters nearby. The parties chatted for around 90 minutes.

The MFP team was led by party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, deputy leaders Sirikanya Tansakul and Pijarn Chaowapatthanawong, and secretary-general Thawatchai Tulathon.

It was the first time that Pheu Thai has reached out to the MFP for help in voting for its prime ministerial candidate, Srettha Thavisin.

Pheu Thai has two other candidates: Ms Paetongtarn and Chaikasem Nitisiri.

It has replaced the MFP as the party leading efforts to form a coalition government after Mr Pita’s bid to become prime minister failed to garner sufficient support from the Senate.

Pheu Thai has since scrapped the memorandum of understanding (MoU) it signed with the MFP and other parties regarding the formation of the next government.

That also frees it to pursue other suitors, as most parties have now vowed not to join any coalition featuring the MFP due to the latter’s stance on reforming the lese majeste law.

Parties in the previous coalition — Bhumjaithai, Palang Pracharath, United Thai and the Democrat Party — are all against amending Section 112 of the Criminal Code.

At the same time, Pheu Thai and the MFP were thought to have suffered a bitter split after Pheu Thai suggested it could no longer work with the party.

But by turning to the MFP, Pheu Thai is seen as potentially being concerned it may not be able to mobilise enough senators to vote for Mr Srettha.

Pheu Thai said if the MFP agrees to back Mr Srettha, it would not need the Senate’s vote to get its candidate through.

For a prime ministerial candidate to pull through, they must receive the support of at least 376 MPs and senators.

Emerging from yesterday’s talks, Ms Paetongtarn said the MFP gave no clear indication of whether it would support Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate in parliament.

“I think we might have to wait a bit longer [for the answer],” she said.

Mr Pita also described Wednesday’s talks as inconclusive. He said the two parties would remain on amicable terms in parliament.

Talks with Move Forward on Srettha ‘inconclusive’