South-East Asia (Page 2,075)

Best of friends or enemies?

The Pheu Thai and the Move Forward parties will have an adversarial relationship right through to the next election and beyond, according to a political analyst.

Both parties have a knife behind their back, ready to stab one another.

It is thought the Pheu Thai Party has been suspicious of the Move Forward (MFP), its closest ally, since before the general election, the analyst said.

On the surface, Pheu Thai and the MFP have positioned themselves as like-minded, pro-democratic entities who went through more than eight years of Prayut Chan-o-cha-led governments.

Under the surface, however, Pheu Thai may have a reason not to trust the MFP.

A political source is convinced the MFP knew from the outset that it would end up in the opposition.

The hurdles have multiplied, which dimmed the MFP’s prospects of successfully forming a coalition government, as the days drew closer to the electing of the new House speaker and prime minister in parliament.

Soon after the May 14 general election, MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat was the subject of a petition by Ruangkrai Leekitwatthana, a former Pheu Thai and Palang Pracharath Party politician, over his iTV shareholding controversy.

He was alleged to have knowingly owned 42,000 shares in iTV despite a law which bars anyone with stocks in a media firm becoming an MP.

However, Mr Pita hit back, insisting he held the shares which had been bequeathed by his father to him and his sibling in his capacity as executor of his father’s will.

The Election Commission (EC) has admitted the case for deliberation and will rule whether or not it has grounds for referring Mr Pita to the Criminal Court.

This week, the EC inquiry panel looking into Mr Pita’s alleged ineligibility wrapped up its investigation and forwarded the findings to the EC’s main committee.

From the iTV saga also comes other equally worrying legal disputes that could put Mr Pita before the Constitutional Court whose ruling could wipe out his political future and his shot at the premiership.

If the share row does not bring Mr Pita down, a far heavier criminal charge which is being sought against the party might.

The FAIR Party, a member of the proposed eight-party coalition led by the MFP, recently landed itself in hot water after a senior party figure, Hakim Pongtigor, spoke at a seminar on the right to self-determination and the advocation of a separate “Patani” state.

Also due to participate in the forum was an MFP politician whose no-show came at the last minute. The forum concluded with a mock questionnaire distributed to participants, reportedly asking them if they agreed whether people should have the right to hold a referendum on the deep South separating from the rest of the country.

Political activist Srisuwan Janya earlier petitioned the EC to investigate whether FAIR, the MFP and Prachachart Party were complicit in the alleged separatist push.

Security authorities are moving to arrest anyone actively connected to the forum on charges of violating the security law and trampling on the constitution’s stipulation that the nation is indivisible.

Then, a sift through his asset declaration records by the investigative Isra News Agency revealed what critics termed as suspicious intent behind Mr Pita’s sale of prime land in Prachuap Khiri Khan at a heavily discounted price.

The 14-rai plot with convenient access to a road and natural resources in Pran Buri district was estimated to be worth at least 18 million baht. However, Mr Pita put it on the market for six million baht, and the land was finally purchased at a heavy discount, which critics thought might have been a way to evade paying high taxes.

Mr Ruangkrai said he sent a letter to the MFP leader to provide more information about the transaction to fulfil a constitutional requirement for a minister.

He said the MFP leader is seeking to become prime minister and so should prove he has the qualifications listed in Section 160(4) of the charter, which says a minister must have an honest track record.

Amongst the information Mr Ruangkrai asked from Mr Pita was the land sale contract, the receipt, the estimated price, payment of land transfer fees, personal income tax, and a copy of the land ownership paper.

The PPRP member also wanted to know if Mr Pita had paid brokerage fees for the transaction and authorised anyone to carry out the transaction on his behalf.

Mr Ruangkrai also questioned whether the land was sold at the stated price.

The Pheu Thai source said that given the slew of legal challenges against both the MFP and Mr Pita, the MFP must have banked on itself transferring to the opposition bench.

But before that, it might be in the MFP’s best interests to play “victim” with Pheu Thai portrayed as the villain in the unfolding political drama, according to an observer.

The Pheu Thai Party has been attacked by MFP supporters for flip-flopping on its position over the House speaker role. The party vehemently insisted on claiming the role only to backtrack later and again soon after that.

Pheu Thai said earlier it was a matter of principle that the biggest party, being the MFP, should get both the speaker and prime minister posts. However, its supporters instantly vented their fury at what they said was Pheu Thai’s lackey mentality toward the MFP.

The reaction prompted Pheu Thai to reassert its demand for the speaker position amid observers’ comments that the party was trying to capture the speakership as a stepping stone for the premiership.

Victimhood could be the MFP’s ticket to sympathy votes in the next election four years down the road. Being in the opposition would free it up to drum up enough support to win an outright majority in the next election.

At the same time, the Pheu Thai Party, as the ruling party, might be tempted to emasculate the MFP as part of a pre-emptive strike to prevent it becoming a formidable challenger in the next polls.

An old party at the crossroads

The Democrat Party is thought to be more divided than ever after the collapse of the July 9 meeting to select a new leader to succeed Jurin Laksanawisit, who stepped down following the party’s poor election performance, according to observers.

It is no secret the Democrats have different views about which direction the party should take following the May 14 general election in which they won only 25 seats, half the total captured in the 2019 polls, and lost significant ground in their southern stronghold.

One camp reportedly wants to be part of a new government, preferably led by Pheu Thai, while the other wants to be in the opposition as a way of clawing back its reputation and political strength.

The first camp is said to be led by acting secretary-general Chalermchai Sri-on, who backs Naraphat Kaewthong, a veteran politician from Phichit, to become leader. The opposing group, which is believed to have the support of party patriarch Chuan Leekpai, is rooting for former leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to return to head the party.

The July 9 meeting to select a new executive board and party leader ahead of Thursday’s crucial prime minister vote was supposed to decide which way the party would head.

However, it was brought to an abrupt end as a result of a lack of quorum. This happened as it appeared that the candidate backed by Mr Chalermchai’s group may be on course to win the party leadership contest and control the party’s fate.

When the meeting kicked off in the morning, there were attempts to undermine Mr Chalermchai’s group by revising the weighted vote rule used in the selection of the party leader.

Under the rule, current MPs account for 70% of the total, while the other members make up the remaining 30%.

Mr Chalermchai’s faction is believed to have 20 MPs and that number is enough to enable Mr Naraphat to win the leadership contest.

The motion was shot down, and so was an attempt by acting party deputy leader Ong-art Khlampaiboon to postpone the vote for 60 days. When these efforts failed, a lack of a quorum to postpone the leadership race became the last resort.

Without a new executive board, the Democrats could not pass a formal resolution on how MPs should vote in the joint sitting of MPs and senators to select the new prime minister.

A Democrat Party source said most MPs are unlikely to vote for Mr Abhisit because they want to be part of the next government. The former leader is believed to prefer being in the opposition.

Rumour has it that Mr Chalermchai has cut a deal with Pheu Thai and agreed to support the party if it takes over in leading the formation of a coalition government from the Move Forward Party. With 25 House seats, the Democrats can expect to be allocated three cabinet portfolios.

Analysts believe the Democrats will be “finished” if it chooses to join a coalition headed by Pheu Thai, which it has fought bitterly against. The party will be seen as abandoning its principles.

If the party wants to revive itself, there is no better place to start than working with the opposition.

Now that Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has decided to leave politics for good, the Democrats might be able to capture the four million votes the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party had in the May 14 poll, said Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, a political scientist from Nida.

It is predicted the UTN, without Gen Prayut, who served as its chief adviser and central figure, will be weakened through defections to other parties, if not disintegrate.

But some pundits argue that it does not matter who takes charge of the Democrats, unless it undergoes a serious revamp and gives younger politicians bigger roles in running its affairs, the party will not be able to revive its fortunes.

According to Yuttaporn Issarachai, a political scientist at Sukhothai Thammathirat open university, the Democrat Party is fraught with structural problems and is bound by an ingrained organisational culture that does not support young politicians.

He cited the departure of several members of the “New Dems” group after the 2019 election defeat as a party failure to undertake an internal overhaul and tap into the potential of these young politicians.

One of the former New Dems, Parit Wacharasindhu, defected to the Move Forward Party where he was given a chance to prove himself, according to Mr Yuttaporn.

Continue Reading

Senator Somchai Sawaengkan will file lawsuits against people posting online threats against him and his family members in the wake of Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s failed prime minister bid.

Sen Somchai yesterday said he and other senators are gathering evidence to bring legal action against internet trolls who have threatened them and their families after a joint session to vote for a new prime minister on Thursday with only 13 senators voting yes, while most (159) were abstentions while 34 voted no.

Sen Somchai held a debate in parliament before the voting session where he said he would not support Mr Pita for the post.

Yesterday, he said, many MFP supporters had posted bullying messages to him and even to his son’s Instagram account.

“This action is unacceptable. It is worse every day when those with different opinions are bullied online and death threats are sent to them and their family members,” according to Sen Somchai.

He and other senators subjected to cyberbullying will take legal action, he said, with evidence being submitted to the Technology Crime Suppression Division.

Continue Reading

A section of Luang Phaeng Road that was closed following the collapse of a segment of an elevated road construction project will be open to traffic on Monday morning, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

Bangkok deputy governor Visanu Samsompol said the collapsed segment has been removed from the scene, but other debris still must be cleared.

He said a final safety inspection will be conducted before the planned road reopening, adding that work has been done to support the overpass’ structure to prevent a repeat of the incident.

A project engineer and a construction worker were killed, and 12 construction workers were injured when the 600-metre-long section collapsed on Monday evening. Many vehicles were crushed, a building was damaged, and several power poles were toppled.

Police are working with forensic experts and the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) to gather evidence and establish the cause of the incident.

Continue Reading

Police have pressed a premeditated murder charge against the prime suspect in the murder case of a German property broker in Chon Buri.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn said yesterday that German national Olaf Thorsten Brinkmann, 52, is the prime suspect among the four arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of Hans Peter Walter Mack, 62.

He said the police changed from a previous offence, murder, which is only punishable by life imprisonment.

Mr Brinkmann has now been charged with premeditated murder, which is punishable by death, Pol Gen Surachate said.

The other three suspects were Petra Christl Grundgreif, 54, Nicole Frevel, 52 and Shahrukh Karim Uddin, 27. All have denied any involvement.

Pol Gen Surachate said that police also seized a speed boat belonging to Mr Brinkmann and found that he planned to dump Mack’s dismembered body into the sea. Police also obtained CCTV footage showing Mr Brinkmann and Mr Uddin in a fishing gear shop.

An owner of an electric saw also testified that he sold the saw to two foreigners that was used to dismember Mack’s body.

Police also found a signal from Mack’s mobile phone in Cambodia. Police are now investigating how his phone ended up in the neighbouring country, he said.

Pol Maj Wachirawit Wisutsereephan, investigation chief at Nong Prue police in Chon Buri, said yesterday that Mr Uddin, who is a Pakistani with Thai nationality, claimed he was forced to help his co-accused. When asked by media yesterday, Mr Uddin said: “I am fearful. I didn’t do it. I didn’t kill (him).”

According to police, Mr Uddin said Ms Grundgreif had asked him to open a pool villa to hold a party for a VIP guest on July 4. On that day, Mr Brinkmann and Ms Grundgreif and the victim arrived and went inside the villa. Mr Uddin said he had been told to wait outside.

After waiting for more than three hours, Mr Uddin decided to go inside the pool villa. When he opened the door, he said he found Mack lying unconscious on the sofa. He then asked the two German nationals what they were doing.

He said Mr Brinkmann suddenly pushed him to the wall and used a gun to threaten him that he would abduct his younger sister and his wife and take them to sell in Cambodia if he would not cooperate and would kill his parents in Phuket if he betrayed his gang.

Continue Reading

The Move Forward Party (MFP) submitted a proposal to parliament yesterday seeking to strip the military-appointed senators of their power to co-select the prime minister.

The move to revoke Section 272 of the charter, which allows the 250-member Senate to join the process of selection a prime minister, came a day after the party’s leader Pita Limjaroenrat failed to muster enough support to back his bid to land the job. It is the seventh attempt to strip the Senate of this power to date.

MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon said the party’s MPs have all signed in support of amending the charter to strip the Senate of this power because the senators opted to abstain from voting this week.

He said 156 senators abstained while 43 others did not attend the meeting on July 13 to select the nation’s new prime minister.

“As the senators clearly expressed that they didn’t want to exercise their [voting] rights, we are proposing a solution. We believe it will be a way out for senators and for our parliamentary system,” he said.

He said the MFP was opposed to Section 272 and decided to try changing it again after that vote.

Mr Chaithawat said the party’s ally, Pheu Thai, had no objection to the move. He said other parties, including Bhumjaithai and the Democrats, would also support such a charter amendment.

The MFP secretary-general said the proposal could go ahead despite the selection of a new PM not yet being been finalised. He added that it could clear parliament within three weeks of its first reading.

The petition has already been accepted by new parliament president Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, who said the petition would be put on the agenda after it has been examined and verified.

Prasert Chantararuangthong, secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, said he doubted the MFP’s efforts would bear fruit.

He said the proposal faces a major hurdle because it requires the approval of senators and MPs. At least one-third of senators, or about 84, must give it the nod.

He said those who were opposed to Mr Pita’s nomination took aim at the MFP’s plan to amend the lese majeste law.

Continue Reading