Barkar Nash (Page 991)

Street protests likely as coup fears surface

Politicians and academics strongly oppose any attempt to form a minority government after the May 14 election, warning that this could spark street demonstrations culminating in another coup.

The warning came after Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam on Wednesday dismissed the possibility of a political vacuum or deadlock arising after the election.

However, he expressed concern that the formation of a new government may take longer than usual. His remarks come as polls show some of the front-running parties drawing closer in the popularity stakes.

While he believes that any party that wins a majority of House seats could form a new government, he said there are some uncertainties which could result in the victorious party getting fewer seats and having to work instead to form a coalition government.

Deputy Democrat Party leader Ongart Klampaiboon said that Mr Wissanu’s comment was only theory, but in practice, the formation of a minority government was unlikely.

“After the election, parties will try to gather support and secure a majority of House seats or more than 250 to form a coalition government. Parties that fail to do so must assume the role of the opposition because they are in the minority,” Mr Ongart said.

“If parties in the minority try to form a minority government and rely on the support of the 250 senators to vote for a prime ministerial candidate they nominate, such a government is not stable and can lose in a vote of no-confidence or a vote on key financial bills.

“If it is defeated in a no-confidence motion or a vote on budget bills, it is only obliged to resign,” Mr Ongart said.

“Any parties that try to form a minority government should take into account political legitimacy, and actions that go against public sentiment could lead to political problems. The formation of a minority government is very unlikely after the election,” Mr Ongart said.

Chartpattanakla Party leader Korn Chatikavanij also confirmed that the party would not join a minority government which would need the help of the senators to choose a prime minister.

“Our stance is clear. We will not join any minority government,” Mr Korn said.

Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, a key Progressive Movement figure assisting the Move Forward Party’s election campaign, voiced opposition to any move to form a minority government, saying this will run counter to the voters’ mandate.

“Forming a minority with the support of the senators will go against the popular mandate. No one will let this happen.

“We will not allow the 250 senators to have their own way. We will form a government led by Move Forward, winning an overwhelming majority in the House,” Mr Piyabutr said.

Wanwichit Boonprong, a lecturer in the Faculty of Political Science at Rangsit University, said that it would be difficult for a minority government to take shape as it would face resistance from voters.

“This will likely spark strong reactions from voters. Parties that fail to win a majority of House seats but still proceed to form a minority government — they don’t accept defeat in the election. Protesters will be back on the streets,” Mr Wanwichit said.

Jade Donavanik, dean of the Faculty of Law at Dhurakij Pundit University, said several politicians lack political etiquette and ethics and are ready to jump at the chance of forming a minority government.

He noted that the military still plays a key role in politics, as any government that has the backing of the military is still able to operate as a minority government.

“This would lead to demonstrations led by parties that win a majority. But if demonstrators do not have the military on their side, security measures will be taken to deal with them,” Mr Jade said.

“The situation could escalate and culminate in yet another coup,” he added.

To prevent conflict, the Election Commission urged setting up domestic voting things.

According to the Climate Change and Disaster Centre at Rangsit University, two winds are expected to hit Thailand next year, possibly having an impact on Election Day on May 14.

According to Seri Suparatit, director of the center, Cyclone Mocha is reportedly bringing heavy rain to the Bay of Bengal and another tropical depression is developing in the South China Sea not far from the Philippines.

Beginning on May 9, the two winds did begin to affect Thailand. However, he wrote in a Facebook article on Friday that storms will begin to form in the western, eastern, northern, and north regions starting on May 8 due to the heat and low-pressure bowl.

On Election Day on May 14, he claimed, there was a 30 % chance of thunderstorms, particularly in the South.

Election Day’s heavy rains may damage ballots, member information, polling places, and ballot boxes, as well as cause visitors to slow down.

He wrote,” We still have a week, so I would suggest the EC set up indoor areas to avoid any issues on Election Day.”

However, he added that a week of rain at the beginning of the rainy season would equally allay farmers’ concerns about dryness.

He suggested checking dams and channels for storing rain for later use after the rainy season ended, as well as accelerating the construction of water engagement areas by municipal operational organizations across the nation.

At the Pattaya place, three suspects are still wanted in relation to a crime.

CHON BURI: According to reports, the gang that robbed three Chinese nationals at a house in Pattaya was given information by the” pretty” who was hired to entertain them.

Three of the five suspects in the early-on-Wedlock assault are still being sought by regulators.

For Sarawut Suthapot, 31, Nakharin Sae Tieo, 26, and Wanchana Kreedkrai, 27, arrest warrants have been issued. Still on the loose are the three soldiers.

On Thursday, Chachana Phimpa, 28, and Thawatchai” Bank” Siyangnok, 27, were both apprehended differently in Rayong and Pattaya.

They have been charged by the police with robbery collusion, coercion involving life threats, people weapon possession for illegal purposes, and related offenses.

The gang’s pickup truck, vests, and masks from the assault were taken during the arrests.

According to Pattaya City police chief Pol Col Thanapong Photi, police have already seized funds that the victims transferred to the bank balances of suspects. The account managers will be summoned by the soldiers for questioning.

Early on Wednesday, the gang broke into the home at the Pattaya Muang Mai housing estate in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district, tied up the three Chinese nationals — two men and one woman — and robbed them of nearly 400,000 baht in cash, a car, and other valuables.

According to local media, the Chinese people had previously hired a” pretty” young woman to host them and provide alcoholic beverages. She reportedly called Mr. Sarawut, posing as” Beer Kophai ,” after spotting numerous priceless items inside, and he then gave the order for his three companions to rob the home.

The lady was reportedly asked by Mr. Sarawut to give drugs to her Taiwanese clients. She left the house and gave the group the go-ahead to execute after the victim started to nod off.

If the person was discovered to have been involved as reported, the Pattaya authorities chief warned, she may be subject to legal action.

Three Chinese nationals were robbed in Pattaya, and five defendants are listed on a policeman map. The three soldiers are still at large on the left. ( Image: Chaiyot Pupattanapong )

All 100,000 polling places need spare, but printing ballots in bound sets of 20 increases the number.

The Election Commission ( EC ) explained why it needs nearly 5 million additional votes on Friday, stating that the required number is increased by the fact that ballots are typically distributed in bound sets of 20.

According to EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee in a Facebook post, special vote must be kept as spare at all 100,000 polling places across the nation.

On May 14, 52.23 million men will have the option to vote, and 2.86 million bound set of 20 votes each have been printed with 57.2 million votes.

So, Mr. Sawaeng stated that the number of printed ballots treated as extra votes is 4.96 million.

Each of the 100,000 voting places is to receive a single group of 20 ballots, with 2 million additional votes being kept for this purpose out of an additional 4.96 million.

Each of the 100,000 polling places may receive another selection of 20 ballots particularly for the station committee members, whose number typically ranges from nine to fifteen depending on the number of voters registered at a place.

The remaining give ballots will be kept for use in case of emergency, such as for the 94 Vietnamese voters who might not be able to complete their expand voting in Sudan in the event of a riot.” Another 900,000 or now shall be used for these two above-mentioned factors both in country and abroad ,” he said.

When these citizens return to Thailand and cast their ballots on May 14 rather than May 14, they may do so with a extra ballot.

Militant claims that the group’s B10,000 digital wallet arrangement may be illegal.

Srisuwan Janya, an activist lawyer, has been contacted by the Election Commission for additional information in order to sustain his complaint about the Pheu Thai Party’s policy of handing out a 10,000-baht electronic handout to anyone 16 and older.

On Friday, Mr. Srisuwan announced that he had received a notice from the EC asking him to update him by May 11.

He has requested that the EC investigate whether the digital wallet plan contravenes Area 73 of the election law, which forbids surveys candidates or some figures from promising to give voters assets, cash, or benefits. Additionally, it forbids them from providing false policy material.

According to him, the digital budget plan may also be against other laws, such as the emergency order on digital resource businesses, state fiscal and monetary discipline law, and currency law.

Every Thai person over the age of 16 will have a different bank savings account and mobile wallet linked to their ID, according to Pheu Thai, which is widely anticipated to earn the most votes in the May 14 election.

With the aid of blockchain technologies, the plan aims to encourage saving in communities in the first six months after its implementation in an effort to boost national economic exercise. It does this by ensuring that the money is spent within a 4-kilometer radius of the person’s home.

The project had pay 560 billion baht, according to Srettha Thavisin, a business professional and Pheu Thai candidate for prime minister. He predicted that it would contribute to an” economic tsunami” that would increase tax revenue by 160 billion baht.

Although Pheu Thai has also provided the necessary information about the policy, such as how much it will cost and where the money will come from, Mr. Srisuwan contends that some issues still need to be resolved.

He questioned whether certain say initiatives, like a welfare program for low-income earners or regular accommodations for the elderly, would be abandoned to make room for money reallocation.

He also questioned whether the price of the digital bag would have an impact on how many Pheu Thai policies may be implemented. With an estimated total cost of 3 trillion ringgit, the club has outlined 70 coverage that it wants to implement over the course of four years, he said.

According to Mr. Srisuwan, the EC may determine whether the insurance and act are workable and whether Pheu Thai purposefully left out important details.

” Ice” is in the light as authorities track down clients of the company that the accused serial poisoner used.

Preechaya” Ice” Pongthananikorn, a well-known actress, has admitted that she purchased poison electronically to ward off screen snakes that had been attacking her pets.

Police said they wanted to speak with other people who had purchased poison from the same company used by alleged serial predator Sararat” Aem” Rangsiwuthaporn, and the 33-year-old celebrity provided the explanation on Friday.

The deputy national captain, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, announced on Thursday that the name of a well-known actress was listed among 100 customers who had bought poison from the same shipment as Ms. Sararat. He did not mention the actress by name, but he warned that officers may call her the following week to find out why she required the poison.

Ms. Preechaya revealed that she had only purchased one jug of poison, not the alleged t, for the Lui Chon Khao television program on Channel 8. She added that she was happy to provide a statement to the authorities but had not yet opened the package containing the product.

According to reports, her mother Bang-orn Pongthananikorn’s child ordered the product digitally on April 25 and got the package in April 27.

She claimed that Ms. Preechaya bought arsenic as a result of the property behind her home becoming less hospitable, attracting snakes, monitor lizard, and poisonous reptiles to harm her dogs.

She had tried a number of other techniques to get rid of the parasites, but they were unsuccessful. She conducted some on research before deciding to purchase poison. At the Bang Khen place, she has also given the bundle and related paperwork to the police.

Police searching the premises of a Lat Krabang company where the suspect was thought to have purchased the cyanide on Tuesday were looking into the serial killings connected to Ms. Sararat, also known as” Aem Cyanide.” For use in laboratories, the industry sells chemicals and equipment.

Pol Gen Surachate stated that all 15 of the accused prolific killer’s reported victim had been poisoned during a press briefing on Wednesday. He claimed that money was the primary reason for the murders.

On April 25, the 36-year-old Ms. Sararat was detained in Bangkok pursuant to a criminal court countenance. She is four weeks along in her pregnancy.

14 of the accused’s 15 sufferers perished, and one survived. 12 of the 14 people who passed away were ladies, and two were soldiers. Authorities think Ms. Sararat tainted her victims’ food and beverages with poison.

Pol Lt. Col. Withoon Rangsiwuthaporn, her ex-husband, is also accused of obtaining stolen property, working together to forge legal information, and using those articles. This year, he was taken into custody and fired from his officers department.

He is currently free on parole after a court ruled that police had been working with researchers and did not have any proof to connect him to the murders his ex-wife is accused of.