Peace talks await input from new govt

A top general has said that efforts to restore peace in the deep South will not be affected as negotiators await direction from a new government.

Gen Wanlop Rugsanaoh, head of Thailand’s Peace Dialogue Panel, said yesterday that talks between the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu-Patani (BRN) and the Thai government will continue for sustainable peace in the southernmost provinces.

Gen Wanlop said he was waiting for the new government to take office, and he expressed confidence it would pick up where the caretaker government left off.

He added the caretaker government set a clear framework for solving the unrest in the southernmost provinces.

He said the Joint Comprehensive Plan towards Peace (JCPP) operation must continue to try and end the longstanding conflict and return peace to the region.

Gen Wanlop yesterday chaired a meeting of coordinating area committee members at the CS Pattani Hotel in central Pattani to discuss the progress of the peace dialogue.

The meeting also acknowledged hearings from representatives of eight civil society groups in three southernmost provinces and four districts of Songkhla.

Participants at the meeting included Fourth Army Region chief Lt Gen Santi Sakuntanak, who is also director of Internal Security Operation Command (Isoc) Region 4, the region army’s deputy commander Lt Gen Uthit Anantananon, and 5th Infantry Division chief Maj Gen Woradet Detraksa.

Lt Gen Santi said he also foresees no disruption to the peace dialogue with BRN, with Malaysia as the facilitator.

He said the coordinating area committee would push to ensure the talks align with the new government’s policy.

He said he did not think the new government’s direction on the issue would be very different from the current peace restoration policy.

“We can work with every party for peace to be restored in the area,” he said.

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Animation fun at heart of exhibition

Digital character industry touts boon

South Korean and Thai businesses involved in digitally animated characters are seeking ways to improve cooperation while enriching cultural exchanges, speakers at the launch of the “Korean-Thai Character Exchange Exhibition” said yesterday.

Shin Chang-hwan, the Korea Animation Producers Association president, said the character industry grew dramatically after the pandemic due to “digital disruption”, resulting in increased emoticon usage.

Consumption of online content has increased over the past decade, and many digital character products have come about as a result, Mr Shin said.

“An increase in the bonds between the two countries’ digital industries could help people to understand each other more,” he said.

“These digital characters reflect each other’s cultural aspects and lifestyles while helping promote bilateral economic ties through investment, research and digital character development.”

The Korean Cultures, Tourism and Sports Ministry and Korean Creative Content Agency have been working to promote the Korean character industry, which earns 20 trillion won (546 billion baht) annually.

The ministry has assisted the industry in making inroads abroad within the US, European and other Asian nations such as Japan.

“After 2020, Korea shifted its emphasis to Asean countries as we share many cultural similarities compared to Westerners. So we are looking for more opportunities for our characters in regional cultural exchanges,” he added.

Sumith Simargool, Thailand Digital Content Association (DCAT) president, said many fun and creative characters had been produced in Thailand, but they depend on foreign online platforms to be promoted.

“I think if Thailand can develop its own strong platform, it will create more opportunities for Thai character creators [to promote their work],” he added.

Korean and Thai Characters such as “Shinbi’s Haunted House” and “ToriYang” from Korea and “Shew Sheep” and “Cat Company” from Thailand are being promoted at the exhibition, which is being held at the Korean Cultural Center in Thailand until Aug 25.

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DUP...Senators take legal action over net slurs

Freedom of speech ‘no justification’

DUP...Senators take legal action over net slurs
Senators Somchai Sawangkarn, centre, and Seree Suwanpanont, left, announce legal action against people they say defamed senators who did not vote for Pita Limjaroenrat to become PM last week. parliament photo

A group of senators have vowed legal action against angry Move Forward Party (MFP) supporters who they claim have targeted them on social media.

Senator Seree Suwanpanont said he and his colleagues had been defamed and intimidated on social media, adding that their families or businesses have also faced similar threats.

He said the senators would pursue criminal and civil action against those found to be behind the attacks.

Online threats made against many senators followed last Thursday’s prime ministerial vote in which MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat failed to win sufficient support to become Thailand’s new prime minister. The MFP and its supporters have blamed Mr Pita’s failed bid on those senators who refused to vote for him.

Mr Seree said last week’s PM vote was a normal parliamentary process while adding that online intimidation directed at the senators and their families affects their civil rights.

Among those allegedly venting anger towards the senators were two well-known lawyers, Decha Kittivittayanan and Phattarapong Supakson.

Mr Seree said libel suits had been filed against the two lawyers.

“We will be pursuing legal action, both criminal and civil, to teach them a lesson that they can’t just violate the rights of others in the name of freedom of expression,” he said.

These people might not be wise enough to realise that most of the vendors selling their products at his Seree Market, which was also a target of online abuse, are actually MFP supporters and are now suffering the consequences of such attacks, he added.

More than half of the workers employed at the Moh Seng Chinese herbal business owned by the family of Senator Wiwat Sangsuriyachat, also under online attack, voted for the MFP in the May 14 election, said Mr Seree.

AI technology had also been used in such online attacks, he said.

“It’s time to change society. Freedom of expression doesn’t apply to intimidating or threatening those with a different opinion,” said Senator Somchai Sawangkarn.

The daughters of some senators have also received rape threats, he said.

National police spokesman Pol Lt Gen Archayon Kraithong has confirmed that police are protecting senators who had asked for extra security following intimidation and threats.

“People should never go too far with freedom of expression and break laws, including the anti-defamation law, Computer Crime Act and personal information protection law,” said Pol Lt Gen Archayon.

“I hope those who are intimidating, verbally insulting or interfering with others’ business will stop acting unlawfully and stirring up conflicts,” said Senate Speaker Pornpetch Wichit­cholchai.

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Pita secures coalition support

MFP leader named PM pick for 2nd vote

The eight-party prospective coalition has agreed to nominate Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister in the second round of voting set to take place tomorrow, amid growing doubts about his renomination.

Speaking after representatives from the eight parties met to discuss their next steps following his failure to secure enough support from parliament on July 13, Mr Pita said the bloc has agreed to nominate him once again.

He also insisted his renomination does not contravene any parliamentary regulation, as several senators have argued that doing so would be a violation of Article 41 of the House’s regulations. The issue will be discussed today at a meeting of senators and MP whips called by House speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.

Mr Pita said he expects to receive more votes from senators who had been absent in the first voting session. He also dismissed reports that the MFP had approached other parties to join its coalition.

The MFP leader admitted his stance on Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law, is complicating his bid for the premiership, as many senators and some MPs are using it as an excuse not to back his nomination.

That said, he said he has no intention of backtracking on his campaign pledges just to secure the role of premier.

Mr Pita also said that he is ready to step aside if he fails to get the required support from parliament in the second round of voting.

When asked to elaborate on MFP’s plan to amend Section 272 of the charter to remove the senators’ power to co-select the prime minister, he said the move is an MFP initiative, not the coalition’s.

Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said the seven coalition parties have agreed to give the MFP another chance and that, at this point, the bloc does not have a contingency plan if Mr Pita still fails.

Meanwhile, Senate whip Somchai Sawangkarn said he will inform parliament of Article 41, which prohibits a motion that has been rejected by parliament from being resubmitted in the same session.

“If another candidate is nominated, it’s considered a new motion,” he added.

Senator Seree Suwanpanont echoed Mr Somchai’s opinions, saying if Mr Pita is renominated for the prime minister’s post, it would lead to an extensive debate about the clause.

Mr Seree urged other political parties which have submitted their prime ministerial candidates to the Election Commission to nominate their candidates for consideration.

Senator Kittisak Rattanawaraha said yesterday the eight coalition parties had a decision to make because the MFP has made it clear that it would not back down on reforming the lese majeste law.

He called the MFP’s policy divisive and said under the current political circumstances, Pheu Thai should be allowed to form a coalition government without the MFP.

He said the social media campaign by MFP supporters to pressure senators to vote for Mr Pita would not change their minds, especially since many supporters have resorted to online bullying and harassment.

In a related development, political observer Ruangkrai Leekitwatthana yesterday lodged a petition with Mr Wan urging him to look at whether Mr Pita is qualified to be nominated as prime minister.

Mr Ruangkrai cited the EC’s decision to seek a Constitutional Court ruling on the MFP leader’s MP status. The EC found that Mr Pita held shares in iTV, a media company, at the time he registered his electoral candidacy, which is a violation of sections 101(6) and 98(3) of the constitution.

According to Mr Ruangkrai, the alleged violation would make Mr Pita ineligible to run as a prime ministerial candidate.

Speaking before the eight-party meeting, MFP deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun said the party is still pinning its hopes on its bid to amend Section 272 of the charter if Mr Pita fails to secure enough support in the second round of voting tomorrow.

She said it would take only two to three weeks to know the result of MFP’s plan to amend Section 272. If these two efforts fail, the party would step aside and let Pheu Thai take the lead in forming a coalition, she said, adding the party would not go back on its word on the lese majeste law issue.

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Beijing growls as Hong Kong fails to lure investors

Why does it matter that a Chinese blogger who uses the pen name “Jing Haihou” says local officials and lawmakers must take actions to maintain Hong Kong’s unique advantage of “two systems” in order to attract investments and encourage those who left the city to come back?

What makes that important is that Jing is understood to be representing the view of Beijing’s political elites when he blasts the Hong Kong government for overzealously enforcing the 2020 National Security Law and thus scaring off foreign investors.

The timing is also significant: Jing’s comments follow the July 6-9 visit to Beijing of US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, a dovish US politician. Washington and Beijing had resumed high-level trade talks after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 20.

“Since the implementation of the National Security Law, some people, including officials and lawmakers, have used the law as a trump card to promote their policies and a shield to hide their responsibility for policy failures,” Jing says.

Lu Xun. Image: The China Project

He says some officials implemented the government’s decisions without deep thought – for example, by removing Chinese writer Lu Xun’s books from public libraries and banning non-political films. Lu Xun is the pen name of China’s liberal novelist Zhou Shuren (1881-1936), whose books are still permitted to be circulated in mainland China.

Jing complains that some people don’t listen to rational criticism, have leftist mindsets and always mix up “contradictions among the people” and “contradictions between ourselves and the enemy.” He says the misuse of the National Security Law is not what the central government wants to see under its principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong.”

He also says connecting Hong Kong with the outside world is a prerequisite for China to keep developing while maintaining a diversified culture. A global network is the only way that Hong Kong can strengthen its status, he says, concluding that “diversification means more gold,” a reference to foreign investments.

Regina Ip. Photo: Jun Hyun YONG / Flickr

Jing’s comments were reported by the Singtao Daily, a pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspaper, on July 11. Pro-Beijing politicians in Hong Kong were initially shocked by those comments. But they then said they agreed with them – a sign of recognition that Jing’s views reflect those of Beijing’s top leaders.

Regina Ip, convenor of the Executive Council, also said Hong Kong should avoid losing its uniqueness or becoming just another city like many on the mainland.

Lau Siu-kai, an advisor of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said safeguarding national security remains Hong Kong’s top priority but the government needs to take care of foreign investors’ and local people’s concerns about freedoms and human rights.

Sam Ng, a Hong Kong commentator, said Beijing now realizes that tight control on Hong Kong does not fulfill its goal to attract foreign investments. However, Ng said, it has remained unclear what Beijing will do next.

In the first five months of this year, China’s foreign direct investment fell 5.6% from a year ago. For decades, most foreign investments have been entering mainland China through Hong Kong.

Hong Kong’s trade offices

Even if Beijing now reviews its Hong Kong policy, it may be a bit too late as the US Congress is a step closer to approving a bill that will grant the US government the power to review the status of or even shut down the Hong Kong economic and trade offices (HKETOs) in Washington, DC, New York and San Francisco.

In February, US Senators Marco Rubio and Jeff Merkley reintroduced the HKETO Certification Act to reevaluate the United States’ recognition of HKETOs. US Congressmen Chris Smith and Jim McGovern also introduced companion legislation in the US House of Representatives.

On July 13, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations passed the Act, which needs to be approved by both houses of Congress and signed by the president to become law.

“Hong Kong is unfortunately neither autonomous nor democratic as China’s genocidal regime continues to undermine the city’s basic freedoms,” Rubio said in a statement. “HKETOs no longer merit diplomatic immunities in our nation. As such, their privileges must be revoked.” 

“The sad reality,” said Merkley, “is that the HKETOs now serve as propaganda arms of the Chinese government. Committee passage of this bipartisan bill is a strong step forward in defense of the people of Hong Kong.”

The Hong Kong government strongly condemned the US Senate Committee for passing the Act and interfering in the affairs of Hong Kong. It said it will continue to implement the National Security Law resolutely, fully and faithfully.

“A small number of politicians in the US ignored Hong Kong people’s unanimous demands for stability, progress and development and the international community’s common interests in Hong Kong,” an unnamed spokesperson at the commissioner’s office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong said on July 14. 

“They deliberately passed evil laws related to Hong Kong and politicized economic and trade issues to serve their own political self-interest,” the spokesperson said. “This conceals their evil intention of ‘containing China with Hong Kong,’ and exposing their bullying and hegemony.”

The current National Security Law forbids acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

Last month, Chief Executive John Lee said Hong Kong will pass another security law in accordance with the Basic Law’s Article 23 this year or in 2024. The new law will cover acts of treason, sedition, theft of state secrets and foreign bodies’ conducting political activities in the city. 

In early June, Beijing called on the US to allow Lee to attend the APEC summit that will be held in San Francisco later this year. Lee was sanctioned by the US as he had led the police force’s crackdown on the anti-extradition protests in late 2019 and early 2020.

Read: China’s June exports hit by weak Western demand

Follow Jeff Pao on Twitter at @jeffpao3

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Swatch sues Malaysia over Pride watch seizures

Swatch's Pride collection of rainbow-coloured watchesSwatch

Swiss watchmaker Swatch says it has begun legal proceedings against the Malaysian government for seizing LGBTQ-themed watches from its stores.

The move comes after officials impounded 172 watches from its rainbow-coloured Pride collection, on sale at shopping malls across Malaysia.

Swatch wants damages and the return of the watches, worth $14,000 (£10,700).

Homosexual activity is illegal in Malaysia under both secular and religious laws.

It is punishable by a prison sentence or corporal punishment.

Swatch filed its lawsuit last month at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur. The case is expected to be heard later this week.

The Malaysian authorities said the watches were confiscated in May by the home affairs ministry’s law enforcement unit because they featured “LGBT elements”.

But Swatch said in its lawsuit that the watches were “not in any way capable of causing any disruption to public order or morality or any violations of the law”.

The firm said its trading reputation had been damaged by the seizures, adding that its “business and trading figures also suffered in the immediate aftermath of the seizure for some time”.

In its promotional campaign for the Pride-themed watches, Swatch describes them as “loud, proud, uplifting and bursting with meaning”.

The firm refers to the Pride flag as “a symbol of humanity that speaks for all genders and all races”.

In its lawsuit, Swatch said the watches “did not promote any sexual activity, but merely a fun and joyous expression of peace and love”.

The lawsuit names the home affairs ministry and the government of Malaysia as respondents.

Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has yet to comment publicly on the matter.

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