Pita Limjaroenrat: Thailand’s reformist leader faces uncertain PM vote
EPAThe reformist winner of Thailand’s elections in May faces an uncertain vote as he runs for prime minister at the opening of parliament.
Pita Limjaroenrat swept to victory as voters’ rejected conservative military rule that had been in place since a coup in 2014.
But he needs the support of lawmakers appointed by the same military leaders to secure a majority.
Mr Pita also faces last-minute legal challenges which could disqualify him.
His alliance has 312 votes, which is 64 short of the 376 votes required to be elected prime minister.
Apart from the votes he would need, Mr Pita appeared to face another blow to his ambitions on Wednesday when Thailand’s notoriously conservative Constitutional Court accepted a recommendation from the Election Commission that he be disqualified.
The court says it is now assessing two complaints against the Move Forward leader; one that he holds shares in a media company – although that company has not functioned for 15 years.
The other that Move Forward’s proposal to amend the draconian royal defamation law, which has jailed hundreds of critics of the monarchy, amounts to an attempt to overthrow Thailand’s entire political order.
It is unclear when the Constitutional Court will deliberate on the case, but technically, under Thailand’s laws, Mr Pita can still become prime minister even if he is removed from parliament.
The 42-year-old Harvard graduate and former tech executive has led throngs of orange-clad supporters in big rallies across the country ahead of Thursday’s parliamentary vote.
“I don’t know how long we will have to wait before the golden chance of 13 July will come again,” Mr Pita said at a Sunday rally outside one the biggest shopping malls in the capital, Bangkok.
Ahead of Thursday’s parliament session, outgoing Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced his retirement from politics after leading the South East Asian nation for nine years.
Mr Prayuth was the army chief who carried out the 2014 coup to oust the country’s civilian leaders who were accused of massive corruption. It was Thailand’s second military uprising since 2006 and in both instances, a member of the powerful Shinawatra political dynasty was removed from power.
In fact, one of the largest blocs in Mr Pita’s coalition is led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of exiled former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.
The decades-old lese majeste laws, which can land people in jail for speaking against the monarchy, were strictly enforced under Mr Prayuth’s leadership and critics said this was used to crush free speech.
During his term, people have been jailed for selling calendars with satirical images of ducks and dressing up like the country’s queen.
Mr Pita described Mr Prayuth’s term as Thailand’s “lost decade” and has promised to end the country’s cycle of corruption and military uprisings. He pledged reforms that would “demilitarise, demonopolise and decentralise” the country.
One of his most contentious campaign promises is to amend the lese majeste laws, which will prove difficult as the monarchy is highly regarded by Thais.
-
-
6 October 2017
-
This online marketplace helps new mothers find a confinement nanny after they give birth
To shortlist a confinement nanny, download the NannyStreet app (available at Google Play Store or App Store ), and indicate your estimated due date. Specify your criteria, including whether you prefer her to stay with you or have alternative accommodation, her cooking experience and other factors.
You can then interview potential candidates through the app via text, phone, or video call, and discuss their responsibilities, fees and your requests.
After both parties agree on the terms, you’ll submit a deposit for the confinement nanny’s services via credit card to secure the arrangement.
NannyStreet also offers services such as pre- and post-natal massages, long-term babysitting, and administrative support for the paperwork involved in hiring a confinement nanny.
Fang Rong plays a young Joanne Peh in Last Madame prequel, was frequently told she looks like the actress
In the course of her career as a child actress, she’s played younger versions of many actresses’ characters, including Rebecca Lim and Zoe Tay, she shared. Of course, Sisters Of The Night marks the first time it’s been more than a few flashback scenes.
It’s also the first time she’s working with Gini Chang and Zhang Ze Tong of Star Search 2019 fame – two actors she’s long wanted to collaborate with.
“When I watched Gini’s performance in the Star Search finals, I was mesmerised by her acting and knew that I really wanted to work with her,” Fang Rong said. “The chemistry between us was amazing on set as sisters of the night!”
And, “I was also super excited to work with Ze Tong as a love interest for the first time because whenever we bumped into each other, we’d say, ‘One day, we need to work together’. We finally got the chance. And, actually, on a random note, I dreamt of filming with Ze Tong a week before I found out he had been cast. I somewhat predicted it in a way, in my dreams, or manifested it in some sense!”
Joint maritime law in focus
The ninth edition of the Southeast Asia Maritime Law Enforcement Initiative (SEAMLEI) Commander’s Forum kicked off on Tuesday with the aim of channelling discussion on the application of joint maritime law in Southeast Asia.
This year’s forum was co-hosted by the US Coast Guard and the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (ThaiMECC). It wraps up tomorrow.
Representatives from Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines attended. Cambodia’s marine force announced its absence earlier.
SEAMLEI forums, divided into the Commanders’ Forum and the Working Group Forum, are held annually with member nations and the Coast Guard, one of the main hosts, in attendance.
The Commander’s Forum is held with the aim of strengthening cooperation regarding the application of maritime law in the Southeast Asian region and discussing the main challenges there, such as the law regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated Fishing (IUU fishing), maritime domain awareness (MDA), and other topics.
For this year’s Commanders’ Forum, talks at the four-day meeting were expected to focus on illegal trading, climate change — and its effect on the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) — and the management of sea pollution.
It also included a revision of the initiative’s standard operating procedure (SOP), which could lead to a mutual agreement among the SEAMLEI members.
House mulls action on road collapse
The House of Representatives yesterday met to discuss an urgent motion filed in response to the deadly collapse of an elevated road under construction on Luang Phaeng Road on Monday evening.
Theerarat Samrejvanich, Pheu Thai Party MP for Bangkok, filed another urgent motion in the meeting, chaired by House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, asking for cooperation from related agencies to brainstorm ideas to find the cause and ways of preventing similar tragedies from recurring following the collapsed road in Lat Krabang district.
Ms Theerarat urged related agencies to provide appropriate compensation to all affected people as the 3,500 baht the companies gave the accident victims to cover their monthly house rent was deemed insufficient.
She urged those parties responsible for building the road to boost the confidence of motorists.
Move Forward Party (MFP) list-MP Surachet Praweewongwut said concerned agencies should collect more data and evidence in order to learn from the incident.
A joint consortium comprising two construction companies must also face a review to see if they are still considered fit to undertake such work.
Mr Surachet said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) should explain why it allowed the contractors to directly use precast concrete components from a factory in lieu of on-site moulding as stipulated by the contract. They should also explain how closely they supervised the project, he added.
Also yesterday, Surajit Pongsingwittaya, a Pheu Thai councillor for Lat Krabang district, proposed an urgent motion to the Bangkok Metropolitan Council to form an extraordinary committee to monitor other large infrastructure projects under the BMA.
Most of the Bangkok councillors reportedly agreed with the proposal.
However, it was opposed by Napapon Chirakul, the Democrat councillor for Bangkok Noi district, who claimed the formation of such a committee would interfere with the work of the BMA’s Committee on Public Works and Utilities, which is in charge of regulating large-scale projects in Bangkok.
“Based on this incident, I agree with forming a committee to only inspect the collapsed elevated road in Lat Krabang district,” he said.
“However, I am against the move to inspect all the other projects in Bangkok as that would get in the way of the work of the Committee on Public Works and Utilities,” added Mr Napapon who chairs the committee.
Chinese fugitives under watch
Thai and Chinese police have agreed to step up cooperation in cases involving Chinese criminal suspects fleeing to Thailand from China to avoid arrest.
Immigration Bureau (IB) officials, led by Pol Lt Gen Pakpoompipat Sajjapan, recently visited China to discuss international crimes involving Chinese citizens.
Pol Lt Gen Pakpoompipat, who received the order from national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, travelled to Kunming for discussions with China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Yunan province’s Public Security Department, and related agencies from Saturday till yesterday.
The IB’s deputy chief, Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nutchanart said talks with Chinese authorities follow numerous reports of Chinese criminals fleeing to Thailand and Chinese committing crimes in Thailand.
The IB exchanged reports with the Chinese authorities about Chinese criminals to improve cooperation between the two countries and to try and prevent criminal elements from fleeing and settling in Thailand to commit additional crimes.
Pol Maj Gen Phanthana said the discussion panels agreed to exchange information regarding the arrest warrants of Chinese suspects who would flee to Thailand or have some relationship with the country.
The Chinese authorities also promised to send a list of their most wanted suspects to the Thailand IB to follow up on their whereabouts and to import that information into the IB’s notification system for future action.
The panel will also gather reports on international fugitives for future discussions, Pol Maj Gen Phanthana said.
Templeâs bid to save old cannons fails
NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: Contractors are proceeding with dismantling century-old cannons at Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in this southern province despite the temple’s order to halt the process until the Fine Arts Department (FAD) has conducted an inspection.
Reports said the temple will be nominated as a Unesco World Heritage site. The contractors were hired to renovate the temple grounds and building before the nomination process begins.
However, last month the contractors dismantled old cannons that used to be exhibited on the temple grounds without an official order from the FAD.
It was reported yesterday that the contractors have proceeded with the dismantling again despite effort by the temple authorities to halt the process.
Phra Dhamma Vajirakorn, the abbot of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, said he is expecting the FAD and the contractors to discuss the matter before any artefacts are permanently destroyed.
Temple spokeman Chalerm Jitramat said the contractors are obliged under the contract to complete the renovation process.
However, the work should be supervised by the FAD. He said the department has not sent anyone to inspect the renovation work so far.
He added the renovation plan covers five prayer halls.
However, it is still lacking clear instructions about detailed construction work or the required budget, he noted.
Phanombootra Chandrajoti, director-general of the FAD, addressed Nakhon Si Thammarat governor Apinan Phuakphong and the staff assigned to prepare for the Unesco nomination bid earlier, saying the renovation work does not require any documentation.
NACC to drop THAI charges
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has dropped charges filed against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and three others in a corruption case linked with Thai Airways International’s (THAI) purchase of 10 Airbus aircraft between 2003 and 2004, according to one of the parties charged in the case.
Pichet Sathirachawal, a former deputy transport minister named as one of the accused, disclosed the NACC’s ruling yesterday.
The four were accused of dereliction of duty over their roles in the aircraft procurement, which was alledgedly found by an investigation team to have been mismanaged and corrupt, causing THAI’s debts to multiply, contributing to the airline’s financial woes.
Mr Pichet said in a television interview yesterday that the NACC has thrown out the charges against him, Thaksin, former THAI board chairman Thanong Bidaya and former THAI president Kanok Abhiradee.
In December last year, the NACC pressed charges of dereliction of duty against Thaksin, Mr Pichet, Mr Thanong, and Mr Kanok, while former industry minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit was dropped as an accused.
The NACC later said Mr Suriya was excluded from the investigation as it was convinced by the evidence that he played no role in THAI’s purchase of the 10 aircraft.
Some critics observed that Mr Pichet’s disclosure of the court’s decision came ahead of Thaksin’s planned return from self-imposed exile abroad later this month. However, Thaksin’s youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, revealed yesterday that her father has deferred his return, citing an unstable political environment.
Previously, Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, NACC secretary-general, said the commission sent a letter to Thaksin, Mr Phichet, Mr Thanong and Mr Kanok asking them to explain the charges they were facing.
Between 2002 and 2004, Thaksin’s cabinet approved THAI’s plan to purchase the 10 A340-500 and A340-600 aircraft worth a combined 53.5 billion baht.
The purchase plan was submitted to the cabinet by Mr Suriya at the time, according to an investigative report.
Pattaya gangs face new crackdown
Cops investigate links to ‘Outlaw’ outfit
Transnational criminal gangs in Pattaya, in Chon Buri, will face a crackdown by police, following the arrest of suspects who allegedly murdered a German businessman in the city, according to deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.
Late on Tuesday night, Pol Gen Surachate called an emergency meeting among local police forces in Chon Buri province including Pattaya Tourist Police, Pattaya Immigration Police and Chon Buri Provincial Police, to discuss the arrest of suspects involved in the gruesome murder of Hans Peter Walter Mack, 62, last week.
The dismembered body of Mack was found in a freezer at a house in tambon Nong Prue of Bang Lamung district on Monday night by detectives who had been following up leads based on security camera video. He had not been seen by his family since July 4.
Pol Gen Surachate said after the meeting that two German nationals — Olaf Thorsten Brinkmann,52, and Petra Christl Grundgreif, 54 — had been apprehended by Nong Prue police on Tuesday. They were charged with colluding in theft and murder.
The other suspect, a Pakistani man holding Thai nationality, Zahrouk Kareem Uddin, 27, was arrested yesterday in Kanchanaburi province, a police source said.
Moreover, police have charged a German national, Nicole Frevel, 52, with moving Mack’s body to conceal the death. She is the tenant of the house where the freezer was kept.
Pol Col Thawee Kudthalaeng, the Nong Prue police chief, revealed that officers have requested pre-trial detention for all suspects from the Pattaya Provincial Court. Mr Brinkmann had refused to talk to investigators, claiming that he must be accompanied by his lawyer at all times.
Pol Gen Surachate said that police are investigating if there are any Thai suspects assisting the “Outlaw” criminal gang run by Mr Brinkmann.
“These transnational criminal gangs are run by foreigners who reside in tambon Nong Prue in Bang Lamung district. Any expats who would like to do business in Pattaya areas must be in contact with these mafias. [Police] have been ordered to enforce a crackdown on them,” said Pol Gen Surachate.
He added that those suspects who are involved in such crimes will have their tourist visas revoked and eventually deported.
Pol Gen Surachate said that the motive behind the murder might have been the result of a conflict between Mack and the suspects. The Outlaw gang has a reputation for extorting money from foreign investors in Thailand.
Don briefs Asean on Suu Kyi talks in Nay Pyi Taw
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai met Aung San Suu Kyi in Nay Pyi Taw last Sunday and subsequently informed Asean of his discussions with the jailed former leader of Myanmar, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
Mr Don on Tuesday told the 56th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in Jakarta that his talks with the Nobel laureate in the Myanmar capital went well, said Kanchana Patarachoke, the ministry’s spokeswoman.
Mr Don said she appeared to be in good health, both physically and mentally.
He also told the Asean meeting that Ms Suu Kyi had during that Sunday meeting with him expressed her support for any effort to defuse conflicts in Myanmar through dialogue.
She also expressed her concern over what she described as the violent conflicts in her country and the internal economic impact from the raging unrest, Ms Kanchana said, relaying Mr Don’s remarks.
Mr Don also told the meeting he believes it is important to separate political conflicts from those involving the use of weapons, when trying to defuse the simmering tensions in Myanmar.
Asean can also initiate talks of its own with the ultimate goal of ending the political conflicts and restoring peace in Myanmar, he reportedly said.
Prior to his meeting with Ms Suu Kyi, which took place while he was visiting Myanmar for other reasons and lasted for over an hour, Mr Don was granted permission to meet her from both the State Administration Council and Ms Suu Kyi, said Ms Kanchana.
Meanwhile, the Myanmar Now online news portal reported that Mr Don’s meeting with Ms Suu Kyi marked the first confirmed encounter between a high-ranking official from Asean and the lady herself since she was arrested during the military coup over two years ago. “She was in good health and it was a good meeting” Mr Don said. “She encouraged more dialogue,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Asean foreign ministers meeting in the Indonesian capital.