Protests update

[Up2U]

the headlines and links are there for informational purposes and I deliberately try not to editorialize but let readers come to their own conclusions. There is enough info in the title if someone wants to open the link and feel inspired to comment. I could make comments about every article and stir the shit if I chose but I view that as counterproductive.
They are your posts and you have every right to post them as and how you wish. It is merely my preference for a slightly longer summery (as per your most recent posts - thank you) as it helps decide whether it's worth opening the links and wading through them or not. But I still think "Protests Update" is an inaccurate heading and could give occasional readers the wrong idea that Bangkok still has regular street protests. Might that put anyone off coming? Perhaps unlikely, but who knows? And with the thread now so long, I doubt any of these will bother looking back to read the first few pages when the title was wholly relevant and particularly informative.
Again you raise a good point, hopefully those who follow this thread understand. I will include the first paragraph or so of an article at your suggestion. Thanks for that.

[Up2U]

Kyoto Review (opinion)

Ugly Americans, Ugly Thais
Sinae Hyun

On January 26, 2015, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, Daniel R. Russel, delivered a speech at Chulalongkorn University, urging the end of martial law throughout the country and the removal of restrictions of speech and assembly. 1 In the following days Thai Prime Minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, lambasted the speech, and said martial law would not be lifted as it could lead to political disturbances. 2 Subsequently, a group of Thai people gathered to protest in front of the U.S. embassy in Bangkok. On January 30, well-known Thai columnist Thanong Khanthong wrote in the Nation: тАЬтАжthe incident brings to mind тАШThe Ugly American,тАЩ тАжтАЭ which portrayed тАЬтАжAmericaтАЩs arrogant behavior towards a third-world country.тАЭ He added that тАЬmany ThaisтАЭ reacted with fury to тАЬwhat is being widely seen as a case of the U.S. meddling in Thai politics.тАЭ 3 In fact, it is those тАЬmany ThaisтАЭ who have permitted the Ugly Americans to тАЬmeddleтАЭ in Thai politics throughout the Cold War right up to the present day....... (read more)

http://kyotoreview.org/yav/ugly-americans-ugly-thais/

[Up2U]

The United States Should Explore Constructive Engagement with Thailand
by cogitASIA Staff тАв April 29, 2015 тАв(CSIS opinion)

By George Abonyi

The United States has taken a strong stand against the Thai coup in May 2014. This may be consistent with the U.S. position on military coups, and with popular sentiment sympathetic to shared democratic values in other societies. However, it may represent a missed opportunity for the United States to help shape ThailandтАЩs complex and ongoing political-economic transformation. While the United States has reduced the scope of military cooperation with Thailand, it can still find ways to constructively engage, even if informally, those in Thailand seeking to implement much needed, long-term institutional reforms.......... (read more)

http://cogitasia.com/the-united-states- ... -thailand/ (http://cogitasia.com/the-united-states-should-explore-constructive-engagement-with-thailand/)

[Up2U]

Redshirts Urge Prayuth to Overturn TV Blackout Order

BANGKOK тАФ Redshirt activists have asked junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha to overturn a state agencyтАЩs decision to revoke the license of a Redshirt-operated TV channel.

Thanawut Wichaidith, spokesperson of the Redshirts' official organization, the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), led a group of activists to submit the letter to Gen. Prayuth, who is also Prime Minister, at the governmentтАЩs complaint center this morning. An official received the letter on Gen. Prayuth's behalf........ (read more)

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1430388305&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

(Sort of old news) Junta to pass law banning homosexuals from monkhood
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 10/03/2015
Kongpob Areerat

The junta cabinet has approved a bill on religion which can be used to prosecute, with jail terms, people who propagate тАШincorrectтАЩ versions of Buddhist doctrines or cause harm to Buddhism. The bill also posts jail terms specifically for homosexual monks...... (read more)

http://prachatai.org/english/node/4843

[Up2U]

BP: Abhisit: Reforms to fail without better charter

Weak political parties will not prevent abuse

1 May 2015
WRITER: REUTERS

"Whatever they have achieved will just come to nothing," says Mr Abhisit.

Any achievements by Thailand's ruling junta while in power will be lost without significant changes to the country's draft constitution, Democrat Party leader and former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Friday.

The military toppled an elected government last May and is engineering wide ranging reforms to heal the country's deep political divisions.

But both the Democrat Party and its rivals have called the junta's draft charter undemocratic, saying it could herald more turmoil under a weak coalition government...... (read more)

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/54 ... er-charter (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/548571/abhisit-reforms-to-fail-without-better-charter)

[Up2U]

Peace TV will 'keep working'
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation May 2, 2015
Content will be broadcast via different media, legal fight will continue: Weng
THE red-shirt Peace TV station has decided to continue disseminating content via the Internet and other media after it was pulled off the air by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) on Thursday night for allegedly being a threat to national security.

The station will also continue its legal battle to be allowed back on air, red-shirt co-leader Weng Tojirakarn said........ (read more)

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/l7rqS

[Up2U]

Thai military forbids labour rally in Chiang Mai
Submitted by editor2 on Fri, 01/05/2015

The military have forced the cancellation of a Labour Day rally organised by workers in Chiang Mai, citing the continuing volatility of the political situation.

According to Prachatham News, the Workers Solidarity Association (WSA), Migrant Workers Federation (MWF), Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (TWF), Thailand Electronic and Electric Appliance Workers' Federation (TEEF), and the Federation of Jewelry and Accessory Workers planned to hold a rally in the northern province of Chiang Mai on the morning of Friday 1 May, International Labour Day.

The rally was initially planned to be attended by about 100 workers, who would walk from Lanna Rama 9 Park in central Chiang Mai to the Provincial Hall to submit a letter to the Chiang Mai governor on the demands of the labour groups...... (read more)

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5023

[fountainhall]

Thai military forbids labour rally in Chiang Mai
The military have forced the cancellation of a Labour Day rally organised by workers in Chiang Mai, citing the continuing volatility of the political situation.
There has been comment in the Thai media recently about claims that the minimum wage should be raised to Bt.360 per day. It was last raised to Bt. 300 in 2013. That rally was about wage and other employment claims rather than political protest. Given that the rally was supposed to assemble only 100 attendees and the military still permitted them to send 30 representatives from each of several labour groups to submit their letter of demands, it seems a bit of a storm in a teacup!

You just have to remember Prayut wants to be Prem 2.

[bkkguy]

You just have to remember Prayut wants to be Prem 2.

i done no that pink,is his cula

bkkguy

[Up2U]

Thai press one of the more restricted in Asean: SEAPA
The Nation May 4, 2015
Group rates thai media closer to myanmar's level but not all agree
THAILAND'S fourth estate has turned from being fairly free to one of the most restricted in the region, standing beside Myanmar and Malaysia, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance said on World Press Freedom Day yesterday.

"The military junta that took power on May 22, 2014 has imposed strict bans on media, public and online criticism of the government while overhauling the political system before calling for an election in 2016," Seapa said....... (read more)

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/mLefo

[Up2U]

Thailand: Public assembly law creates new hurdles for political protests
By Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices May 04, 2015

In the past decade, Thailand has seen fair share of political protests. As color-coded groups staged prolonged, large-scale street rallies, politics frequently more often took place outside than inside its usual institutions. Many of these protests went on for several weeks with varying degrees of impact on public life as major public areas (Rajaprasong Intersection in 2010 and 2014, Democracy Monument), numerous government buildings (even Government House itself in 2008) and even BangkokтАЩs Suvarnabhumi Airport (also in 2008) have been occupied. And many protests have also sparked violent incidents (sometimes deliberately provoked), some resulting in deaths as protesters have clashed with security officials тАУ or in the case of the red shirt protests of 2010 тАУ the military.

The last major demonstrations weтАЩve seen were the anti-government protests of 2013-14, which lasted almost half a year and brought parts of the capital Bangkok to a grinding halt тАУ not to mention halting political discourse, deliberately creating a deadlock in which the military could easily launch the coup of May 22, 2014.....(read more)......

http://asiancorrespondent.com/132633/th ... -protests/ (http://asiancorrespondent.com/132633/thailand-public-assembly-law-creates-new-hurdles-for-political-protests/)

[Up2U]

Thai JuntaтАЩs lawmakers to pass bill to regulate public demonstrations
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 04/05/2015

ThailandтАЩs Lawmakers gave a final approval to pass the bill to regulate public assemblies, which will create petty hindrances to public demonstrations.

According to the Nation Breaking News, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Friday completed the third reading on the Public Assembly Bill.

158 members of the NLA voted in favor of the bill while four members did not vote. None of the NLA members voted against the draft bill, the Nation reported...... (read more)......

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5025

[Up2U]

Referendum should 'focus on key charter points'
THE NATION May 5, 2015
THE National Legislative Assembly yesterday threw its support behind submitting the new constitution to a public vote of confidence, but only on critical points, as most of it is regarded as fine already.
The NLA all agrees that a referendum should be held," deputy president Peerasak Porchit said yesterday. "A public referendum should not be focused on whether to adopt or reject the whole constitution, as it may prevent good elements [from being implemented]...... (read more)....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 59327.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Referendum-should-focus-on-key-charter-points-30259327.html)

[Up2U]

New website for constitution referendum

4 May 2015 at 20:23
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS

Some 150 people led by academics Nidhi Eawsriwong and Charnvit Kasetsiri have joined hands to push a "democratic referendum" on the new constitution.

The group comprises academics, activists, students, unions, writers, film directors, journalists, politicians and other people.

Among them are Mr Nidhi, a historian and former Chiang Mai University lecturer; Mr Charnvit, former Thammasat University rector; Kasian Tejapira, a politicial science professor at Thammasat University; Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, a movie director; former education minister Chaturon Chaisang; ex-deputy PM Surapong Suebwonglee; and Suchart Sawatsri, a national artist.

The group has three main proposals for different scenarios....... <read more)........

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/55 ... referendum (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/551215/new-website-for-constitution-referendum)

[Up2U]

Red shirts petition UN over Peace TV ban

4 May 2015
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS

Red shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn and news anchors from the now-defunct Peace TV submitted a petition to the United Nations on Monday to protest the revocation of its broadcasting licence.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship chief presented the protest letter to Yu Kanosue, a officer with the Office of High Commission on Human Rights for Southeast Asia at the UNтАЩs headquarters on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue.

The petition asks the UN to call on Thailand to comply with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which concerns the right to freedom of expression, after the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission banned Peace TV from the airwaves
..... (read more).......

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/55 ... ace-tv-ban (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/551231/red-shirts-petition-un-over-peace-tv-ban)

[Up2U]

ThailandтАЩs Self-Absorbed Dictatorship

It has been a bleak year for democracy in Thailand.
By Serhat ├Ьnaldi
May 01, 2015

A mad man is ruling in the land of smiles. A year after taking power it has become clear that General Prayuth Chan-o-cha is a malign dictator who offers no solution to the problems Thailand is facing. Instead, he makes death threats against journalists, drags those who speak their minds before martial courts, postpones democratic elections time and again, and overlooks the drafting of a constitution that may legally prolong his stint as prime minister, or at least allow for his return when and if elections are eventually held. His aggressive comments before the media are as legendary as they are dangerous in that they reveal his temper, his lack of rationality, and an absence of any even-handedness. The world should have long lost patience with the man who has dragged Thailand into an economic and political no manтАЩs land...... (read more).....

http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/thailand ... tatorship/ (http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/thailands-self-absorbed-dictatorship/)

[latintopxxx]

democracy isnt for everyone...look at africa...one man one vote one time only.......and even when regular voting happens we still get situations like venezuela..greece...maybe some cultures require and respect a strongman.

[Up2U]

Suthep Welcomes Five More Years for PM Prayuth
06 May 2015
SURAT THANI тАФ The leader of the street protests that paved the way for the May 2014 coup has praised ThailandтАЩs military leader and welcomed him to stay in power for up to five more years.

Speaking to reporters today, Suthep Thaugsuban described junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha as an ideal Prime Minister because he solves problems "without seeking personal gain."

"If Gen. Prayuth can stay and keep solving problems and making this country and the livelihood of the people better, he can stay for three years or five years," Suthep said. "We should not only try to have what looks cool."........ (read more).......

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1430910868 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1430910868)

[Up2U]

VOA: Thailand Political Parties Criticize Proposed

Ron Corben

May 06, 2015 10:58 AM
BANGKOKтАФ

The new constitution drafted by ThailandтАЩs military-backed government is aimed at returning the country to democratic rule, but the draft version is already under criticism by a wide range of political parties.

This will be the 20th constitution since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932, and its supporters say it tries to succeed where the others failed тАУ to create a stable and enduring democracy.

But it has drawn opposition from the countryтАЩs two major political parties, who say it weakens their influence and will do little to end the political polarization that has divided the country over the past 15 years.......... (read more)........

http://www.voanews.com/content/thailand ... 52332.html (http://www.voanews.com/content/thailand-political-parties-criticize-proposed-constitution/2752332.html)

[Up2U]

PM orders camp cleanup

Sets 10-day deadline to expunge trafficking
7 May 2015

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has given local authorities in all provinces 10 days to eliminate all Rohingya detention camps and related activities in their areas.

Deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Gen Prayut also has ordered the authorities to eliminate any other illegal migrant detention camps in Songkhla within 10 days.

Authorities concerned would face punishment if illegal human-trafficking detention places and activities are still found after that time frame......... (read more).......

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/55 ... mp-cleanup (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/553247/pm-orders-camp-cleanup)

[Up2U]

Is the Mass Grave a тАЬTurning PointтАЭ for Thai Policy on Trafficking?
May 6th, 2015 @ 06:43 pm тА║ Joshua Kurlantzick

Last Friday, Thai police discovered a mass grave near the countryтАЩs southern border with Malaysia. Twenty-six bodies have been exhumed from the grave thus far. According to a report in the New York Times, the mass grave was located in an abandoned detention camp that was likely used by human smugglers. These camps, primarily for Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, are common in southern Thailand. This one, the Times reported, was тАЬmade up of bamboo cages, watchtowers and what the Thai police described as a тАШtorture room,тАЩ without giving more details.тАЭ

Both Thai officials and many Thai media outlets said that the discovery of the mass grave would mark a dramatic shift in how Thailand addresses trafficking.... (read more)........

http://blogs.cfr.org/asia/2015/05/06/is ... afficking/ (http://blogs.cfr.org/asia/2015/05/06/is-the-mass-grave-a-turning-point-for-thai-policy-on-trafficking/)

[Up2U]

BP Editorial: Take down the traffickers

8 May 2015

The Prayut government should be commended for taking swift action against human trafficking rings following the shocking discovery of Rohingya death camps in the dense jungles of Padang Besar by the Thai-Malaysian border.

On Wednesday, the government transferred a high-ranking army officer and 38 policemen in Satun, Ranong and Songkhla where Rohingya detention camps and graves are located. That these officers were in charge of immigration, marine surveillance and law enforcement in the areas confirms long-held public suspicions of government officials' collusion with trafficking networks...... (read more).......

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... raffickers (http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/554979/take-down-the-traffickers)

[Up2U]

The Changing Face of ThailandтАЩs Junta
A year after coup, Gen. Prayuth gives no sign of exit plan
By
James Hookway
Updated May 7, 2015

BANGKOKтАФ Prayuth Chan-ocha likes a nice uniform. There was the army chiefтАЩs outfit he wore when he seized power a year ago. Then there was the lavishly embroidered white civil servantтАЩs get-up for when he appointed himself ThailandтАЩs prime minister.

Business suits, well, they donтАЩt seem to fit him so well.

For while Gen. Prayuth is still a popular figure in many households for his bluff soldierтАЩs humor, ThailandтАЩs economy, once one of the fastest-growing in the world, is stumbling badly. Add to that the absence of a timetable for ThailandтАЩs return to democracy and the relief many Thais felt when he took over has given way to apprehension..... (read more)......

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-changin ... 1431027002 (http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-changing-face-of-thailands-junta-1431027002)

[Up2U]

Amnesty condemns Thai junta over media censorship
Submitted by editor2 on Wed, May 6, 2015

Amnesty International urged the Thai junta to remove censorships over media and stop the prosecutions of people of the press in the name of national security.

On Sunday, Amnesty International issued a public statement to the Thai junta on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, which is on 3 May of every year.

The statement pointed out that since the imposition of the martial law on 20 May 2014 and the subsequent coup dтАЩ├йtat, the junta maintains tight control over media, claiming that it is necessary for national security.

Although the martial law is now lifted, the military government still repeatedly prosecute people of the press and media outlets, who are allegedly presenting informations deemed as inciting conflicts, divisive, and distorting of facts, Amnesty concluded.

Amnesty international illustrated the repression of media in Thailand with the case of Somyos Pruksakasemsuk, a former editor of Voice of Thaksin Magazine, who was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, lese majeste law. He was denied bail 16 times........ (read more).....

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5029

[Up2U]

Thai junta leader implies charter referendum тАШwaste of moneyтАЩ
Submitted by editor2 on Fri, 08/05/2015

ThailandтАЩs junta leader expressed reluctance to hold public referendum before passing the draft constitution, saying that it could cost billions of baht.

According to Prachachat News, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, on Thursday afternoon told the media that holding a public referendum on the draft constitution may cost the government three billion baht (about USD 89 million).... (read more)....

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5038

[Up2U]

Boonsong, Poom, Manas impeached for fake rice exports

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Friday voted to impeach former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, former deputy commerce minister Poom Sarapol and former foreign trade chief Manas Soyploy for fake government-to-government rice deals.

Published: 08/05/2015 at 01:41 PM
Writer: Mongkol Bangprapahttp
(read more).......

//m.bangkokpost.com/topstories/555659

[Up2U]

May 8, 2015 8:54 am
ThailandтАЩs junta dances lightly abroad amid crackdown at home

Michael Peel in Bangkok
The Khon тАФ or masked play тАФ is the visually spectacular meeting point of Thai arts and culture.

A tale of two Thailands is about to be played out in LondonтАЩs most prestigious traditional concert venue and the jails of Southeast Asia.

In the British capital, a gala show at the Royal Albert Hall will next month honour a Thai princess, in a performance of a masked court dance last staged there for Queen Victoria 130 years ago. Almost 10,000km away, student dramatists and even a bookseller languish in prison cells because they are deemed to have insulted the very same Thai royal family..... (read more).....

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/77297316 ... z3ZjG6q7rg (http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/77297316-f4a0-11e4-9a58-00144feab7de.html#axzz3ZjG6q7rg)

[Up2U]

BP Opinion: Thailand needs to make rational decisions

11 May 2015
WRITER: JOHN DRAPER & PEERASIT KAMNUANSILPA

In the uncovering of mass graves and 21st-century death camps тАФ essentially forced labour camps where the twist is that the victim's relatives must work and sell their possessions in the hope their relatives will be freed тАФ as well as in the detection of hundreds of unregistered fishing trawlers, Thailand has a choice.

The first is to deny everything and avoid injuring vested interests and thereby potentially causing disharmony along social cleavage lines such as the military versus the police.

The second option is an onslaught on the evil that Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has acknowledged lies within the system тАФ an evil perpetuated by xenophobia. The Thai military seems to have chosen this alternative and has initiated command and control centres to eliminate human trafficking and revolutionise the Thai fishing industry.

Thailand does not have much time. The next US Trafficking in Persons Report comes out in June....... (read more)......

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... -decisions (http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/557299/thailand-needs-to-make-rational-decisions)

[Up2U]

US will take part in Cobra Gold next year

9 May 2015
WRITER: WASSANA NANUAM

Hawaii: The US will participate in next yearтАЩs Cobra Gold military exercise with Thailand, a United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) official has confirmed.

The official, who asked not to be named, told the Bangkok Post that the US will not scale down its part in next yearтАЩs Cobra Gold, which is one of the worldтАЩs largest multinational military events...... (read more).....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... -next-year (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/555983/us-will-take-part-in-cobra-gold-next-year)

[Up2U]

Judiciary sees charter open to political meddling

Critics see risk of political meddling

11 May 2015
| WRITER: POST REPORTERS

The Office of the Judiciary is urging charter drafters to review seven points in the draft, especially an element involving the composition of the Office of the Judicial Commission (OJC) as it would open the way for political meddling.

The office's secretary-general Phattarasak Vannasaeng said the office has raised concerns on the seven issues in a list of recommendations submitted to the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC)...... (read more)......

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/55 ... l-meddling (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/556995/judiciary-sees-charter-open-to-political-meddling)

[Up2U]

Former Anti-Govt Protest Leaders to Run as Democrats in Next Election: Chumpol

BANGKOK тАФ Leaders of the ultra-conservative movement that sought to topple the former government will run for office after the new constitution is enacted, one of the movement's core leaders said in an interview.

The anti-government movement, named the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King as Head of State (PCAD), was led by nine former MPs who resigned from the Democrat party to join the street protests in November 2013.

Chumpol Julasai, a former Democrat politician and co-founder of the group, told Daily News in an interview on 10 May that almost all of the former politicians will re-join the Democrat Party ticket for the next election, the first since the May 2014 coup..... (read more).....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1431330146&section=11)

[Up2U]

Minorities and minority rights in Thailand
By
John Draper and David Streckfuss
тАУ 11 May 2015

This article is being published as a matter of urgency to serve as a basic introduction to the subject of minority rights and mapping of ethnolinguistic groups. The need is even more pressing, given the critical juncture in ThailandтАЩs history where the interim military government seems intent on imposing a highly repressive, authoritarian, and nationalistic model on Thai citizens. This column also seeks to re-host the Ethnolinguistic Map Project of Mahidol University (MU), ThailandтАЩs best data source on minorities.

Thongchai WinichakulтАЩs Siam Mapped: A History of the Geobody of a Nation is on the essential reading list of any Thai studies student. Published in 1988, it explains the increasing relevance of maps and concomitant delineation of borders to the Siamese polity from the pre-modern period to the 20th century......(read more)......

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... -thailand/ (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/05/11/minorities-and-minority-rights-in-thailand/)

[Up2U]

CDC tries to soothe worried bureaucrats

12 May 2015
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS


The spokesman for the Constitution Drafting Committee on Tuesday played down concerns from village and subdistrict administrators that sections of the draft constitution aimed at reforming local government would end their careers, saying their status will not change.

Village heads, subdistrict chiefs and deputy district bosses from across the country on Monday petitioned Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, National Reform Council chairman Thienchay Kiranandana and CDC chairman Borwornsak Uwanno to cut three sections in the draft -- 82(3), 284(5) and 285 -- which reallocate authority among local administrative organisations from the village to provincial level...... (read more)....

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/55 ... ureaucrats (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/559159/cdc-tries-to-soothe-worried-bureaucrats)

[Up2U]

Prayut rejects calls to extend term

Some in NLA urge 2 years to bed in change

13 May 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: PATSARA JIKKHAM & MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insists he will stick to the road map for a return to democracy even as some legislators propose the country wait another two years for reforms to be put in place.

Some National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members have suggested the public be asked in a referendum whether they are happy to wait another two years before the reforms take effect, which would effectively extend Gen Prayut's term in office.

Gen Prayut, however, said he would stick by the timeline set out in the roadmap, which calls for an election in February next year..... (read more)....

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/55 ... xtend-term (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/559491/prayut-rejects-calls-to-extend-term)

[Up2U]

ThailandтАЩs poor urge junta to hold charter referendum
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 12/05/2015

A civil society organisation for ThailandтАЩs poor has urged people to call on the Thai junta through local administrators to hold a referendum on the draft constitution.

The Assembly of the Poor, an organisation which is the voice of ThailandтАЩs poor communities, on Tuesday submitted a statement to the Thai junta to demand that the regime hold a public referendum on the draft of the countryтАЩs highest law, the constitution.

According to the group, the majority of people should be given the right to say if they accept or reject the current version of the draft constitution, which is now under the consideration of the cabinet...... (read more)......

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5050

[Up2U]

5 years after crackdown, red shirts biding their time

Wounds remain fresh for kin of killed protesters

13 May 2015
WRITER: AFP

Five years after a bloody military crackdown on anti-government red-shirt demonstrators, relatives of those killed say unrepentant army rulers have failed in their promise to heal the country's deep divisions.

Nongnai remembers the precise moment her younger brother died. The 38-year-old teacher was at work when the call came saying her sibling Attachai Anchalee had been struck by a soldier's bullet just above the heart...... (read more).....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... their-time (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/560331/5-years-after-crackdown-red-shirts-biding-their-time)

[Up2U]

Ball in Junta's Court After Charter Drafters Endorse Referendum
13 May 2015

BANGKOK тАФ The Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) will formally ask the ruling military junta to organize a referendum on the new constitution, a spokesperson said.

The CDC, a body appointed by the junta to replace the charter dissolved after the May 2014 coup, reached a consensus on the question of a referendum after a two-hour meeting today, said Gen. Lertrat Rattanavanich.

The committee will now submit its opinion to the junta and the Cabinet, both of which are led by coup leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who will have the final say.,.... (read more)...

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1431508570&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Wounds still fresh five years after 2010 bloody red-shirt crackdown
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE May 14, 2015
FIVE years after the April-May 2010 crackdown on the red shirts, relatives of those killed say unrepentant Army rulers have failed in their vow to heal the deep divide.
Nongnai remembers the precise moment her brother died. The 38-year-old teacher was at work when the call came saying her sibling Attachai Anchalee had been struck by a soldier's bullet just above the heart.

She listened as a friend described the medics' desperate efforts to stem the bleeding and keep her brother's heart going with chest compressions. "I was on the phone for 10 minutes ... until he said my brother passed away," she said.

Attachai, a 28-year-old law graduate, was one of at least 90 people killed during the crackdown. He was among thousands of so-called red shirts loyal to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra who took over key intersections in central Bangkok early that year, demanding fresh elections to replace the pro-military appointed government..... (read more).....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/mb7yy

[Up2U]

Yingluck faces red payout rap

15 May 2015
| WRITER: ARIANE KUPFERMAN-SUTTHAVONG

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has charged that payouts to some relatives of violence victims were biased politically, especially towards the red shirts after the 2010 Bangkok crackdown. (Bangkok Post file photo)

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said Thursday there are grounds to bring charges against former premier Yingluck Shinawatra relating to improper disbursement of compensation to red-shirt protesters and supporters.

The NACC also decided there were grounds to charge former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban over alleged irregularities in police station construction projects...... (read more)......

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/56 ... payout-rap (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/561851/yingluck-faces-red-payout-rap)

[Up2U]

May 14 2015
Israel Embassy Condemns Thai Aristocrat's Praise of Hitler

BANGKOK тАФ The Israeli ambassador in Thailand has criticized a Facebook post written by a member of the Thai royal bloodline that praised Adolf Hitler as an exemplary statesman and described the Holocaust as "propaganda."

Mom Luang Rungkhun Kittiyakara, 46, published a lengthy post on 20 April 2015 тАУ the 126th anniversary of Hitler's birthday тАУ alleging that the German dictator and his Nazi Party were falsely cast as evil for their attempt to "rescue" Germany's economy from the financial grip of "Zionist capitalists."

"Hitler led his folk and nation back to glory, and reclaimed sovereignty, freedom, and liberation from being indebted to and slaves of an evil capitalist regime," Rungkhun wrote. "And what led to destruction of everything he built? The fact that he managed to find a way to rescue his nation from slavery? Because he showed the world that he could build a better future without the Zionist capitalist regime? Those are the truths. He was the hero of his people. He is the father of Germany. His people loved him, and he loved his people."..... (read more)....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1431595555 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1431595555)

[Up2U]

Charter referendum possibly in Dec or Jan

14 May 2015
WRITER: PATSARA JIKKHAM

A referendum on the draft constitution could be organised in December or January if the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and the cabinet agree to the idea, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-Ngam said on Thursday.

The referendum will be on the agenda in talks next Tuesday between the NCPO and cabinet amid growing calls by political parties and activists for people to make the decision on the new charter.

The push for a vote gathered pace on Wednesday after charter drafters and the National Reform Council (NRC) agreed to the idea in a joint proposal to be forwarded to Prime Minister and NCPO chairman Prayut Chan-o-cha....... (read more)......

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/56 ... dec-or-jan (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/561559/charter-referendum-possibly-in-dec-or-jan)

[Up2U]

US weakens ties with Thailand, strengthens with Philippines
April 22 2015
MINORU SATAKE and TAMAKI KYOZUKA, Nikkei staff writers

MANILA/BANGKOK -- China's growing dominance in Southeast Asia has prompted the U.S. to rethink its military strategy there, resulting in stronger ties with the Philippines and less cooperation with Thailand.

The strengthened partnership with the Philippines comes as Beijing's intention to expand its control over the South China Sea becomes increasingly clearer...... (read more).....

http://linkis.com/asia.nikkei.com/Poli/sLltQ

[Up2U]

Graft probes sideline 45 top officials

16 May 201

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has issued an order under Section 44 of the interim charter suspending 45 senior officials, pending investigations into corruption allegations against them.

The order was published in the Royal Gazette on Friday.

According to the order, government and local administrative officials are under investigation following graft allegations by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Auditor-General.... (read more).....

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/56 ... -officials (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/563115/graft-probes-sideline-45-top-officials)

[Up2U]

People want to pass charter: Poll

17 May 2015
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS

Most people will vote for the constitution draft if a public referendum is held today, according to an opinion poll by the National Institute for Development Administration, or Nida Poll.

The poll was conducted on May 12-13 on 1,250 people aged 18 up of various levels of education and occupations throughout the country to gauge their opinion on the proposed referendum of the 2015 constitution draft. It was carried out under a systematic random sampling method with a standard error not exceeding 1.4...... (read more)......

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... arter-poll (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/563795/people-want-to-pass-charter-poll)

[Up2U]

Thailand's Yingluck faces trial and political ruin

AFP
May 17, 2015

ShareBangkok (AFP) - Thailand's first female prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra faces court Tuesday at the start of a negligence trial which could see her jailed for a decade and deliver a hammer blow to the political dominance of her family.

It is the latest legal move against Yingluck -- sister of fugitive billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra -- whose administration was toppled in a military coup nearly a year ago.

She is accused of criminal negligence over a populist but economically disastrous rice subsidy scheme, which paid farmers in the rural Shinawatra heartland twice the market rate for their crops.

Yingluck is not accused of corruption but of failing to prevent alleged graft within the programme, which cost billions of dollars and galvanised the protests that eventually felled her elected government leading to last May's coup...... (read more)....

https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/28032 ... ical-ruin/ (https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/28032539/thailands-yingluck-faces-trial-and-political-ruin/)

[Up2U]

Abhisit writes in the BP: One year on, get involved, don't bicker

18 May 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA

"Government that is over-reliant on the bureaucracy will struggle to understand and address the needs of ordinary people. The missing link is the democratic process." - Abhisit Vejjajiva

It has been almost a year since the coup d'etat. Many people, from media commentators to academics and politicians, are quick to offer opinions or even pass judgements on the success or failure of the government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Such an exercise can only be useful if we all remind ourselves of the context and the goals we wish to attain for our country. Last year, I wrote the NCPO would ultimately be judged on its ability to hand over a better political system as part of a reform package as it hands power back to the people. I suggested then that progress on the economy and reforms would be the biggest challenges for the NCPO and the government.

A year on, there is little doubt about some of the achievements of the regime. We all live in a far safer and more stable environment and Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha continues to demonstrate determined and well-intentioned leadership. In particular, his attempts to clean up some government departments and businesses have proved to be well received.

Yet on the main challenges, it would be unwise and unfair to pass judgement upon them without taking a somewhat deeper look..... (read more).......

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/56 ... n-t-bicker (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/564291/one-year-on-get-involved-don-t-bicker)

[Up2U]

Anti-junta group to sue Prayuth and coup-makers for rebelling against constitution
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 18/05/2015

An anti-junta group planned to file charges against Thai junta leader and associates for instigating rebellion to topple the constitution.

Resistant Citizen, a courageous pro-democracy and anti-junta group, on last Thursday posted a video and a statement on the groupтАЩs facebook page that the group will file charges against Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and prime minister, and his associates for staging a coup dтАЩ├йtat...... (read more)......

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5070

[fountainhall]

"Hitler led his folk and nation back to glory, and reclaimed sovereignty, freedom, and liberation from being indebted to and slaves of an evil capitalist regime," Rungkhun wrote. "And what led to destruction of everything he built? The fact that he managed to find a way to rescue his nation from slavery? Because he showed the world that he could build a better future without the Zionist capitalist regime? Those are the truths. He was the hero of his people. He is the father of Germany. His people loved him, and he loved his people."
Given the writer, I suppose such words (I was going to use a far less general term) cannot be criticised without lese majeste being invoked!

[Up2U]

Human Rights Watch: Thailand: After 5 Years, No Justice for 2010 Violence
Military Commanders Untouchable, While Victims Arrested and Pressured Into Silence
May 18, 2015

(New York) тАУ Five years on, the Thai government has not prosecuted those responsible for the 2010 political violence in Thailand, Human Rights Watch said today. Despite overwhelming evidence that soldiers used excessive and unnecessary lethal force against protesters and others, not a single soldier has been held accountable for deaths or injuries during the crackdown on street protests.

From March to May 2010, political confrontations between the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), known as the тАЬRed Shirts,тАЭ and the government of then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, escalated into violence in Bangkok and several provinces. According to the Justice MinistryтАЩs Department of Special Investigation, at least 98 people lost their lives and more than 2,000 were injured.

тАЬThe failure of successive Thai governments to prosecute anyone from the military for the 2010 political violence sends a stark message of impunity,тАЭ said Brad Adams, Asia director. тАЬFully five years on, commanders who gave the orders to soldiers and those who pulled the triggers all remain untouchable.тАЭ..... (read more)....

http://m.hrw.org/node/135133

[Up2U]

Thai general election to take place Aug 2016 at the earliest: DPM
Published on May 19, 2015

BANGKOK (REUTERS) - A Thai general election planned for early 2016 will now take place in August 2016 at the earliest, a deputy prime minister said on Tuesday, following a decision by Thailand's cabinet to hold a referendum on the country's new constitution.

"If we have to do a referendum in January, after that we will need three to four months to amend various laws ... then no more than 90 days after that we will hold an election," deputy prime minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

"At the earliest it will take place around August or in September."

The Thai cabinet agreed earlier on Tuesday that a referendum should be held on the constitution and the military's blueprint for restoring democracy. Thailand's military government came to power in a coup last May.

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/s ... dep-pm-201 (http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia/story/thai-general-election-take-place-august-2016-the-earliest-dep-pm-201)

[Oliver]

Any news on which parties will be allowed to partcipate?

[Up2U]

Any news on which parties will be allowed to partcipate?
All parties and candidates should participate unless those previously banned by Constitutional Court.

[Up2U]

VOA: One Year After Thai Coup, No End in Sight for Military Rule

On Thai Coup Anniversary, No End in Sight for Military Rule

Steve Herman

May 20, 2015 9:05 AM
BANGKOKтАФ

Friday marks one year since Thailand's then army chief, Prayuth Chan-ocha, staged a bloodless coup тАФ the latest in a long series of military removals of elected governments.

Since carrying out the May 22, 2014 coup, the general has retired from the military but is still firmly in charge, with his appointment as prime minister by a hand-picked legislature. He recently lifted martial law, but Article 44 of the junta's interim charter ensures he dominates.

тАЬThe bottom line is the acts or laws still give the sweeping power to General Prayuth, right? But if you look into the situation on the ground I think most of the Thai people understand that the way prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha uses power is in a very constructive way,тАЭ said army major general Weerachon Sukhondhapatipak, a spokesman for the junta, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order.... (read more)....

http://www.voanews.com/content/one-year ... 79277.html (http://www.voanews.com/content/one-year-after-coup-no-end-in-sight-for-military-rule/2779277.html)

[Up2U]

Khaosod English
20 May 2015
[b] Thai Rights Commission Challenges Shutdown of Redshirt TV Channel[/b

BANGKOK тАФ ThailandтАЩs National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has disputed a state agency's decision to pull a Redshirt-operated TV station off the air, calling the move an unjustified violation of freedom of expression.

Peace TVтАЩs license was revoked last month by ThailandтАЩs media regulatory board, the National Broadcasting Telecommunication Commission (NBTC).

NBTC officials said the channel had violated junta orders that forbid media from inciting violence or causing "divisions in the Kingdom." Redshirt leaders later filed a complaint to the NHRC and asked the committee to investigate the ruling.

NHRC director Niran Pitakwachara said today that the committee believes the shut-down order was delivered without due process or cause..... (read more)....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1432117930&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Cabinet vets options if polls veto charter

Formal referendum go-ahead 'still awaits'

21 May 2015
WRITER: PATSARA JIKKHAM & AEKARACH

At least four proposals are being discussed in the event the draft charter is rejected in the national referendum, said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

Mr Wissanu said the government is considering what actions should be taken if the public votes against the charter.

Once finalised, the proposals will be included in the amendments on the draft submitted to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA)

According to the deputy prime minister, the four proposals range from setting up a new National Reform Council (NRC) and Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC); appointing new drafters without the NRC; handing the charter-writing task to the NLA; and allowing the cabinet to replace the draft with any of the previous charters...... (read more)...

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... to-charter (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/567859/cabinet-vets-options-if-polls-veto-charter)

[Up2U]

One year after ThailandтАЩs military coup: Some personal thoughts
By Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices May 22, 2015

When Pink FloydтАЩs vocalist and bassist Roger Waters wrote the 1979 rock classic тАЭAnother Brick in The WallтАЭ, he was thinking about the authoritarian teaching and rote learning he encountered in his school days that would produce, in his opinion, more proverbial bricks in the wall of mental detachment.

I recently came across somebody online pointing out the difference between a teacher and a professor: a teacher makes sure that students learn, a professor on the other hand (ideally) only points them to the general direction and leaves it up to them once they encountered the тАЭfountain of knowledgeтАЭ. He then went on to compare that a government should be similar to the professorтАЩs job, which creates a free environment where discussions can be held and ideas can flourish. Instead, the post comments, the current Thai government is more like a teacher that not only decides that we have to learn, but also what and how.

And boy, what a teacher we have right now!

ItтАЩs been exactly a year since ThailandтАЩs military has launched the countryтАЩs 12th successful coup, toppling what was left of the embattled and besieged government of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra. It was the end of over half a year of anti-government protests that have eventually morphed into anti-democracy rallies, but it was just the beginning of Thailand under martial law and military rule. On that day, we saw the death of Thai democracy as we knew it..... (read more)....

http://asiancorrespondent.com/133069/on ... ign=buffer (http://asiancorrespondent.com/133069/one-year-after-thailands-military-coup-some-personal-thoughts/?utm_content=bufferc08d4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer)

[Up2U]

Thailand Coup Turns 1, Brass Stay Put

Posted on May 21, 2015 By Our Correspondent Headline, Politics, Thailand

Systematic military takeover unprecedented and ruinous to any hope of democracy

Thailand will mark a bleak anniversary on Friday, May 22, the date in 2014 that Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha brought down a democratically elected government for good. In the intervening year, the military has tightened its grip on Thailand and appears to have little intention of loosening it.

The country is likely to remain in the militaryтАЩs clutches for an unknown number of additional years. The common wisdom is that nobody is going to take any chances until after King Bhumibol Adulyadej dies and his 70-year reign, the longest of any monarchтАЩs in the world, is over.

BhumibolтАЩs 62-year-old son, Maha Vajiralongkorn, the crown prince, is almost certain to take over. Because Vajiralongkorn is regarded as a loose cannon, none of the courtiers who surround the unimaginably rich palace want to see him succeed his father without someone to keep track of him, lest he renew his previous relationship with Thaksin Shinawatra, the Dubai-exiled former prime minister. The military and Prayuth will see to that.

Beyond the questions over the succession, however, there is the bigger question of how BangkokтАЩs bankers and other elites will handle the frustrated political consciousness of people in rural areas that Thaksin sparked. The May 22 coup snuffed that. Any hope to see ThailandтАЩs democracy moved forward has been destroyed for now...... (read more)....

http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/th ... map=%5B%5D (http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/thailand-coup-turns-1-brass-stays-put/?fb_action_ids=10205859005128516&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B785022318279596%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.likes%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D)

[Up2U]

May 21, 2015 12:00 am JST
1 year from coup
Thailand's economy tests the junta's steering skills

HIROSHI KOTANI, Nikkei staff writer


BANGKOK -- It is a harrowing time to be in Thailand's farming business. Just ask Taweewong Ieamsri, 74, a farm equipment wholesaler in a Bangkok suburb.

His income dropped more than 20% on the year in 2014, and the worst may be yet to come. So far this year, sales are down 10% compared with the same period last year.

The tough business conditions are being felt industrywide. Some of Taweewong's competitors have gone so far as to offer their sales representatives free overseas trips if they reach their targets.

Farmers are not buying equipment because they are saddled with debt. The previous government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ran a controversial program to purchase rice at inflated prices. This prompted growers to take out loans to expand production, counting on higher income. When the government found itself overwhelmed by the transactions and the program fizzled, farmers were left in the lurch.

Slumping international prices for rice and natural rubber are making things worse. And farmers' problems are Thailand's problems, since they account for half of the country's population.

Other sectors of the economy are in limbo.

"We will launch 4G (fourth-generation) by the first quarter of 2015," Somprasong Boonyachai, CEO of Intouch Holdings, told the Nikkei Asian Review on May 22, 2014. Intouch is the parent of Advanced Info Service, Thailand's largest wireless provider.

Hours later, the military launched a coup...... (read more)......

http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy ... ing-skills (http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Economy/Thailand-s-economy-tests-the-junta-s-steering-skills)

[Up2U]

Update: About 20 activists detained for planning to commemorate the coup
Submitted by editor1 on Fri, 22/05/2015
Update 7.45pm: The police have detained about 20 activists after they gathered and about to commemorate the first anniversary of the coup.

The first arrest occurred about 6pm after a group of students gathered at the Bangkok Art and Cultural Center (BACC), Siam Square. As about a hundred of police officers and about 20 plainclothes officers deployed the area, the students sat peacefully for a few minutes before the police arrested them..... (read more).....

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5088? ... um=twitter (http://prachatai.org/english/node/5088?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)

[Up2U]

Anti-junta group to sue Prayuth and coup-makers for rebelling against constitution
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 18/05/2015

An anti-junta group planned to file charges against Thai junta leader and associates for instigating rebellion to topple the constitution.

Resistant Citizen, a courageous pro-democracy and anti-junta group, on last Thursday posted a video and a statement on the groupтАЩs facebook page that the group will file charges against Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and prime minister, and his associates for staging a coup dтАЩ├йtat...... (read more)......

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5070


Activists Arrested After Suing Junta Chairman for 2014 Coup

BANGKOK тАФ Four anti-coup activists were detained by police after filing a lawsuit that accused coup-leader and junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha of committing high treason for overthrowing an elected government one year ago.

The activists, who founded the anti-coup group Resistant Citizens, initially planned to walk to the Criminal Court in a public display of dissent, but were intercepted by police and forced into a van.... (read more)....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1432296037 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1432296037)

[Up2U]

Arrests mark first anniversary of Thailand coup as protesters rally against junta
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 23 May, 2015

Reuters in Bangkok

Police arrested several anti-junta activists yesterday for small protests marking a year since Thailand's generals seized power from the elected government, as the coup's leader said the country "may have collapsed" without his intervention.

The sporadic but rare acts of defiance against Thailand's generals came as self-exiled and ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra - who sits at the heart of the kingdom's bitter political divide - gave an interview overseas saying he was happy to bide his time to make his comeback.

There were scuffles between a handful of student protesters and police in downtown Bangkok evening as anti-coup demonstrators tried to chain themselves together outside a popular mall...... (read more).....

http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1 ... ly-against (http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1807434/arrests-mark-first-anniversary-thailand-coup-protesters-rally-against)

[Up2U]

Thaksin raps coup 'masterminds'

22 May 2015 at 15:55 6,339 viewed25 comments
WRITER: AEKARACH SATTABURUTH

Thaksin Shinawatra has claimed that privy counsellors worked behind the scenes in supporting the protests that culminated with the ousting of his sister Yingluck's government by the military.

"The armed forces listen to privy counsellors. When they did not want us to stay in power, they ordered Suthep (Thaugsuban) to come out and ordered the armed forces to help (Suthep),'' Thaksin told Choson Media in Seoul on Wednesday...... (read more)...

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... asterminds (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/570239/thaksin-raps-coup-masterminds)

[Up2U]

The Diplomat: ASEAN Beat

ItтАЩs been one year since ThailandтАЩs coup, and there are no signs of democracyтАЩs return.
By John Sifton
May 21, 2015

If Thai military junta leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha was a movie character, film reviewers would likely find his role crude and implausible. Ham-fisted, impetuous, and almost comically unaware of how his own words make him seem unhinged, Prayuth seems like a stereotypical dictator from central casting. Since seizing power in a coup one year ago this week, Prayuth has ruled Thailand as a coarsely crafted despot: threatening and arresting dissidents and critics and offering up strings of inaccurate, frightening, and often self-contradicting statements to justify his actions.

There was no coup, according to PrayuthтАЩs spokesmen. Thais are completely free. тАЬYou want freedom,тАЭ Prayuth said in March, тАЬI gave you freedom. Everything. I never forbid anything.тАЭ

Detainees making allegations about torture are lying-in jail they only suffered mosquito bites. Critics are not being detained-Thais held incommunicado in military camps have been тАЬinvitedтАЭ to meetings to тАЬcalm downтАЭ and тАЬadjustтАЭ their тАЬattitudes.тАЭ...... (read more).....

http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/the-year ... -the-coup/ (http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/the-year-of-living-crazily-thailand-one-year-after-the-coup/)

[Up2U]

Military junta has done a good job in a year performance, poll says
in Politics | May 23, 2015

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has done a good job over the past one year in office with a public opinion survey showed the military junta received an average 8.15 scores out of 10 from ratings by respondents.

The survey was conducted on 1,969 people during May 15-22 by Rajabhat Suan Dusit UniversityтАЩs Suan Dusit Poll.

On the question of satisfaction over the NCPOтАЩs 12 months after the 22 May 2014 coup, 50.97 per cent of those surveyed said they were тАЬrather satisfiedтАЭ and another 33.06 per cent said they were тАЬvery satisfiedтАЭ..... (read more).....

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/milita ... -poll-says (http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/military-junta-has-done-a-good-job-in-a-year-performance-poll-says)

[Up2U]

Year-old Thai coup imposes superficial calm but little else
By TODD PITMAN
May. 23, 2015

BANGKOK (AP) тАФ Shortly after seizing power in a coup that followed months of debilitating street protests, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha vowed to end Thailand's decade of political upheaval once and for all. In his words, "to bring everything out in the open and fix it."

A year later, the military can boast that it has restored stability and kept this Southeast Asian nation calm. But the bitter societal fissures that helped trigger the putsch are still simmering below the surface, unresolved.

"Our differences have just been pushed under the rug by a junta that prohibits freedom of expression," said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch. "Nothing has been done to address the root causes of Thailand's deep divide.".... (read more)....

http://bigstory.ap.org/urn:publicid:ap. ... 5c9583059c (http://bigstory.ap.org/urn:publicid:ap.org:4fa213ed19fd479f94cfbf5c958305 9c)

[Up2U]

The Diplomat
The Rice and Fall of Yingluck Shinawatra

The former Thai prime minister faces a potential jail term over a bungled rice scheme.
By Asit K. Biswas, Matthew J. Kastner and Cecilia Tortajada
May 21,2015

It was simple math for former businesswoman and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to win the July 2011 election and lead the Pheu Thai Party: Guarantee the procurement price of rice paddy for farmers at THB 15,000 (roughly $450) per ton. This was 4,000 baht above the rate set by the previous Democrat Party and almost 50 percent above the global market price. Since almost 40 percent of ThailandтАЩs labor force is in agriculture, and the majority of those are in rice, Yingluck sailed to victory and was sworn into office on August 10, 2011.

The strategy was a simplistic but unrealistic three-step process: Buy rice from farmers at inflated prices, stockpile it to reduce global supply and drive up global prices, and resell it later at a higher price to recover the initial outlay.

At the time, Thailand was the largest rice exporter in the world, controlling 30 percent of the market. Shinawatra thought this market share was large enough to manipulate global prices. Whether it was naivety, political pandering, poor judgment, or likely a combination of all three, this plan backfired spectacularly as other countries, notably India and Vietnam, promptly filled the Thai void from the end of 2011 to 2013..... (read more)......

http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/the-rice ... hinawatra/ (http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/the-rice-and-fall-of-yingluck-shinawatra/)

[Up2U]

May 24,2015 Financial Review
Thailand election won't solve the political crisis
by Pavin Chachavalpongpun

The Thai political crisis has deepened following the coup of May last year. The military claimed it was saving Thailand from slipping into a new round of political violence after months of anti-Yingluck Shinawatra protests. But, in reality, it sought to take control over politics in the twilight of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's almost 70-year reign.

For decades, the monarchy and the military have co-operated closely to create a political environment in which governments must be kept weak and vulnerable. Should governments appear challenging or threatening, as Thaksin Shinawatra's did, they were to be overthrown in a coup.

But the authoritative era of King Bhumibol is coming to an end. The looming departure of Bhumibol has elevated anxiety levels among the traditional elites, of which the military is a part. This has driven the military to intervene in politics at this critical period. It aims to manage the royal succession to defend the interests of the old elites. Failing that, should the military be forced to step aside from politics тАУ either by domestic or international pressure тАУ it aims to ensure that the political infrastructure it leaves behind can be used to maintain the military's political position.... (read more).....

http://www.afr.com/opinion/thailand-ele ... rj?stb=twt (http://www.afr.com/opinion/thailand-election-wont-solve-the-political-crisis-20150524-gh8brj?stb=twt)

[Up2U]

Opinion: ThailandтАЩs Stunted Transition
Thitinan Pongsudhirak -
Thitinan Pongsudhirak is Professor and Director of Chulalongkorn UniversityтАЩs Institute of Security and International Studies in Bangkok.
May 21, 2015

BANGKOK тАУ One year after ThailandтАЩs 12th military coup in its 83 years under constitutional rule, and as the controversial trial for criminal negligence of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra gets under way, the countryтАЩs future is perilously uncertain. In the months ahead, the military-enforced calm will coexist with growing anxiety about what will follow King Bhumibol AdulyadejтАЩs nearly seven-decade-long reign. Will compromise and mutual accommodation тАУ extremely rare in recent years, enable Thailand to reshape its contested political order тАУ currently underpinned by an elite-driven, monarchy-centered hierarchy тАУ to reflect better the principles of electoral democracy?

Three key factors have defined Thai politics over the past year. First, unlike tried and tested post-coup arrangements from the past, the junta that seized power last May, the National Council for Peace and Order, chose to rule directly, with the coupтАЩs leader, General Prayut Chan-ocha, assuming the premiership, rather than appointing a recognized and capable figure to the position..... (read more)....

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commen ... SIeRPMU.99 (http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/thailand-military-junta-shinawatra-by-thitinan-pongsudhirak-2015-05#DFq9jXU4RSIeRPMU.99)

[fountainhall]

http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Economy/Thailand-s-economy-tests-the-junta-s-steering-skills

It is a harrowing time to be in Thailand's farming business
I applaud up2u for the balance he includes in some of his posts from various media outlets. This is one. I do not know this particular site nor its political bias, but it lays out pretty clearly the disastrous rice pledging scheme - less the scheme itself and more the folly of both setting the price so high and the frivolous assumptions, contrary to the views of almost all the worldтАЩs experts in rice economics, that the world market would bear it. In 2012 ThailandтАЩs flagship crop of Hom Mali fragrant rice was priced at $1,000 per ton. Vietnam and India were selling their rice on to the world market at $400 a tonne. Thai rice exports fell 44% in the first year alone. For 30 years Thailand had been the worldтАЩs leading rice exporter. No longer!

That Yingluck was eventually going to get into trouble as a result must have been clear to her pretty quickly. In 2013 the IMF urged Thailand to abandon the scheme, a call earlier made by many independent economists. In its annual review with Thai authorities, the IMF reported that -


Thai officials acknowledged concerns about the effectiveness and transparency of the program and тАЬsuggested that a reduction in the pledging prices or limits on the amount of purchase might be needed to ensure the sustainability of the policy,тАЭ according to a summary of Thai officialsтАЩ views included in the IMF report.
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2013/11/ ... subsidies/ (http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2013/11/12/imf-takes-aim-at-thailands-costly-rice-subsidies/)

A year earlier, the Asian Development Bank had said precisely the same тАУ


Lourdes Adriano, the ADBтАЩs agricultural specialist, said the scheme was тАЬunsustainableтАЭ and that the government knows this.
http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2012/0 ... ice-trick/ (http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2012/09/05/thailands-unfeasible-rice-trick/)

Then there was the trumpeting that much of the rice would be bartered with China as part of the deal for that country building a high-speed rail network in Thailand. The memorandum of understanding was signed with great fanfare in October 2013 by Ms. Yingluck and the Chinese Prime Minster. This called for 1,400 kms of lines linking Kunming in Yunnan Province with Bangkok. One line was to pass through Vientiane; the other through the Shinawatra clanтАЩs stronghold of Chiang Mai.

The military government see-sawed on this until finally the barter deal was called off. Instead the building of rail links were to be thrown open to tender. But Thai economists for some time had been claiming the link through Vientiane made absolutely zero sense given the small size of the population in Laos and the backwardness of its economy. As Forbes magazine pointed out, Beijing chose the Vientiane route -


as a favor to a small ally and in order to further hammer its wedge into ASEAN
The Forbes article adds that ChinaтАЩs ambitions for its rail plan had little to do with Thailand. Although it does not pose the question, it surely has to be asked: why should Thailand assist the Chinese in what gives Beijing a free reign to ensure the strengthening of its influence throughout the region?


This train route will be a tool of free circulation for Chinese investments, goods and people. And it will not end up in Bangkok but in Singapore, 1425 km further south: it will be the first truly trans-Asia rail-link, and the most potent one . . . China is building its commercial and political empire for centuries to come.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericrmeyer/ ... and-right/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericrmeyer/2014/09/14/the-end-of-the-chinese-rice-for-train-plan-in-thailand-right/)

However well meaning the policy, its implementation was a disaster. Whether Ms. Yingluck will emerge form her trial unscathed only time will tell.

However well meaning the policy, its implementation was a disaster.Farmers the world over believe they are somehow privileged - it's probably something to do with the agricultural antecedents to civilisation conveying a great nobility of purpose (Irony Alert). You have only to look at the EU's Common Agricultural Policy and the behaviour of the French peasants every time their privileges are threatened. Whatever the merits of this scheme, General Tasty decided to keep everyone sweet by paying the peasants what they thought they were owed. Let's not forget that Abhisit had an equally poorly conceived rice scheme but (of course) he hasn't been prosecuted. Red Shirt corruption bad, Yellow Shirt corruption good.
Whether Ms. Yingluck will emerge form her trial unscathed only time will tell.I do love a man with a sense of humour.

[Up2U]

I thought this article from the Diplomat described the botched rice scheme pretty well(posted earlier). Countries worldwide are sympathetic to the plight of their farmers and do everything they can to help them, Thailand being no exception. Of course, farmers and the agricultural industry are a foundation of the economy and represent many votes.

http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/the-rice ... hinawatra/ (http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/the-rice-and-fall-of-yingluck-shinawatra/)

Of course, farmers and the agricultural industry are a foundation of the economy ...Which backward economy do you come from? Greece? Here are the figures for Thailand (http://www.indexmundi.com/thailand/gdp_composition_by_sector.html)
..and represent many votes.That's certainly true.

[fountainhall]

Let's not forget that Abhisit had an equally poorly conceived rice scheme but (of course) he hasn't been prosecuted. Red Shirt corruption bad, Yellow Shirt corruption good.
Agreed. Abhisit had his scheme and Thaksin senior also had his scheme. Neither had safeguards against corruption and both had their problems with cheap rice coming across the border and being mixed in with the higher priced Thai rice. One estimate puts that at at least 1,000 tonnes per day. And both believed that having some rice in warehouses was a good way to control world prices.

The problem is that the Yingluck government's election platform went much further, saying it would fix the price at Bt. 15,000 per tonne of paddy compared to the then world price of Bt. 11,000. It then paid zero attention to those who raised red fags and pointed out the damage this would do to the economy due to the country's falling share of the gobal market. And since the subsidy would only go to small farmholders, a lot of the landlords just split their mega holdings into small lots so they also get their share of grease from the pot.

From 2004 to 2014 the estimated loss from the various schemes is Bt. 700 billion. That total loss is more than the total Thai bailout of US$21 billion by the IMF in 1997! The Yingluck government's 3-year share is around Bt. 537 billion.

[Up2U]

May 25,2015
Prayuth on Anti-Monarchy Plot, the 'Two Types of Thai People,' and Student Activists

BANGKOK тАУ Thai junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha delivered a lengthy speech to a group of investors over the weekend, offering his views on an alleged plot to overthrow the monarchy, the student protests that marked the one-year anniversary of the coup on Friday, and a range of other political topics.


Gen. Prayuth speaking at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Bangkok on 23 May 2015.

Below are notable excerpts from the two-hour speech, which he gave at an event organized by the Thai Chamber of Commerce at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Bangkok on Saturday.

On the monarchy:

"Thai people must love each other, but still some evil people like to distort information about the monarchy. And everyone believes it тАж People who don't know and don't understand fall for these lies. People who insult the monarchy right now may not be great in number, but they belong to a movement of people who want power and seek personal gain. There are only two things that they want to control, but they cannot do so: the military and the monarchy. If they can destroy these two things, they will definitely be able take over Thailand. It will be done by someone that all of you know, but I don't want to say out loud who this person is. Because if I say it, that person may counter me, and I will get angry, and I will be forced to exercise my power. I don't want to exercise my power."

[Read related article: Thaksin: 2014 Coup Makers Helped by Traditional Elites]

On intelligence of Thai people:.... (read more)....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1432534166 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1432534166)

[Up2U]

Big changes suggested by Cabinet for charter
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH,
OLAN LERTRUDTANADUMRONGKUL
THE NATION May 26, 2015 1:00 am
Ministers say draft must promote reform, prevent conflict, improve justice in politics

THE CABINET yesterday proposed about 100 revisions to the draft constitution and suggested that the new charter should help promote national reform, prevent political conflict and improve justice in politics.

The proposed drastic changes included reduced power for unelected senators, dropping recognition of political groups and deleting the clauses on the establishment of political ethics bodies.

But the Cabinet left intact the clause that allows a non-MP to become prime minister and the clause on open-list and mixed-member proportional-representation voting.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the Cabinet submitted its proposals to the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) yesterday.

Of the some 100 revisions suggested, half involve changes to the wording of clauses, such as prepositions, while the other half involve bigger principles, according to Wissanu... (read more)...

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 60923.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Big-changes-suggested-by-Cabinet-for-charter-30260923.html)

[Up2U]

Rice, repression and rule by force
By
James Giggacher
тАУ 26 May 2015

One year after the latest military takeover, ThailandтАЩs ongoing coup culture leaves a bad taste at home and abroad.

Rice and Thailand go tongue-in-cheek, with the countryтАЩs largest export also a staple. These days another staple in the Southeast Asian nation are coups.

And the тАШglutinousтАЩ grain speaks volumes about the countryтАЩs latest military takeover, which has just marked its first anniversary, and the rut the country finds itself stuck in.

Let me boil it down for you.

On 22 May 2014, then General and now Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha declared martial law, two days later taking full control of the government with the backing of the military. His establishment of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) brought an end to more than seven months of political unrest and protests against the countryтАЩs democratically elected government and ongoing tensions between the Shinawatra family-led Red Shirts and the royalist Yellow Shirts.

The move may have brought a semblance of political stability to the country, despite ongoing dissent and protest. But it is also fair to say that Thailand has not made progress economically or democratically тАУ two of the main motivators behind the ArmyтАЩs smash and grab for control.

Firstly, cash has stopped flowing into the country.... (read more)......

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... -by-force/ (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/05/26/rice-repression-and-rule-by-force/)

[Up2U]

NRC sums up 129 changes to charter draft
26 May 2015

Two panels of the National Reform Council (NRC) on Tuesday proposed changes to 129 points in the constitution draft, reducing its content to around 100 sections from 315.

"We want a strong government and effective checks. We propose a parallel election system in which 400 of all 500 MPs come from constituencies," said Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, chairman of the NRC's political reform panel.

The remaining 100 will be party-list MPs. The open list method, in which voters choose not only the party they like the most but also its candidates, should be replaced by the party list method used earlier, he said..... (read more).....

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/57 ... rter-draft (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/573475/nrc-sums-up-129-changes-to-charter-draft)

[Up2U]

Life for the Thai Exiles: Aum Neko in France
Submitted by editor1 on Fri, 22/05/2015
Thaweeporn Kummetha
Since the coup on 22 May 2014, about a hundred pro-democracy activists have fled the country. Most were involved in the red-shirt movement. Most decided to flee after they were summoned by the junta. Most also face l├иse majest├й charges. Seeing the military court handing down severe verdicts in l├иse majest├й cases with little likelihood of getting bail and no appeals allowed, their chance of walking free in the Kingdom of Thailand is slim and it is no wonder that leaving the country is a better option. But abandoning life, jobs, education, property, and loved ones in Thailand and starting all over in a new country is very difficult.

The exiles went to a few destinations in Southeast Asia, Europe, New Zealand and the USA. France is one. In the first of a series, PrachataiтАЩs Thaweeporn Kummetha tells the story of a provocative transgender student activist who goes by the name тАШAum Neko.тАЩ Thaweeporn visited Aum in a city in France she asked not to be revealed and spent some time with her in April along with two other Thai exiles -- Jaran Ditapichai, a leftist and veteran political activist, and Somsak Jeamteerasakul, former Thammasat University historian and fierce critic of the l├иse majest├й law. The following article is written from ThaweepornтАЩs perspective and you can watch the video interview below... (read more)...

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5082

[Up2U]

May 27, 2015
Thai Govt Unveils 12-Nation 'Friends of Thailand' Bloc

BANGKOK тАУ Ambassadors from twelve countries are visiting Bangkok today as a part of the Foreign Ministry's effort to form a new diplomatic bloc that promotes Thailand's standing in the international community, a government spokesperson said.

"They visited Thailand through our program of creating a network of alliances for Thailand - called Friends of Thailand - which has been formed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," said Maj.Gen. Weerachon Sukhonthapatipak.

The diplomats, who are ambassadors to the United Nations, hail from Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Comoros, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Ghana, Kiribati, Hungary, Nauru, Vanuatu, and Cameroon.

According to Maj.Gen. Weerachon, junta chairman and Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha met with the UN ambassadors today and told them that Thailand is undergoing a period of national reforms, and will hold an election by September 2016.... (read more)......

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1432708694 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1432708694)

[Up2U]

Thailand revokes former PM ThaksinтАЩs passports
By AP News May 27, 2015

BANGKOK (AP) тАФ Thai authorities have revoked two passports belonging to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra following an interview he gave in South Korea last week.

The foreign ministry said Wednesday that police advised them that the passports be canceled because the interview could impact ThailandтАЩs тАЬsecurity, safety and pride.тАЭ

In an interview with the South KoreaтАЩs Chosun Ilbo newspaper that was widely circulated in Thai media, Thaksin suggested that ThailandтАЩs Privy Council, which advises the nationтАЩs constitutional monarch, had engineered months of anti-government protests that culminated in a May 2014 coup.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former army chief, has insisted he staged the coup himself.

Thaksin was ousted in another coup in 2006, and has lived in exile since being convicted on corruption charges in 2008.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/133186/th ... passports/ (http://asiancorrespondent.com/133186/thailand-revokes-former-pm-thaksins-passports/)

[Smiles]

"The diplomats, who are ambassadors to the United Nations, hail from Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Comoros, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Ghana, Kiribati, Hungary, Nauru, Vanuatu, and Cameroon."
That's quite the powerhouse! B-)
I'm waiting for the red carpet to be rolled out for the honorable Mr Mugabe one of these days.

[Up2U]

Thaksin hit with royal slur probe

Govt revokes former premier's passports

28 May 2015 WRITER: POST REPORTERS

Authorities have launched a lese majeste probe against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after the Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that it has revoked his two Thai passports.

The move was seen as a response to Thaksin's interview in Seoul last Wednesday with Chosun Ilbo, when he claimed privy councillors supported the May 22 coup last year that ousted his sister Ying┬нluck's government.

A clip of the interview was spread and viewed widely on Thai social media.

Police believe the interview could violate the lese majeste law, as well as other criminal and computer-crime laws..... (read more)....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... slur-probe (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/574831/thaksin-hit-with-royal-slur-probe)

[Up2U]

Between Two Worlds: ThailandтАЩs Coup One Year On
May 27, 2015

By Kim McQuay

The first anniversary of ThailandтАЩs latest coup passed without ceremony or acknowledgment by the military-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which assumed power following the ouster of the elected Pheu Thai government on May 22 last year. The anniversary was marked by fresh statements of concern from international organizations, pointed commentary from international news agencies and country specialists, and thoughtful reflections by a handful of respected Thai political observers whose public prominence and carefully measured views limit their risk of political censure.

The 2014 coup ended several months of escalating political tension triggered by the clandestine bid of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to pass a blanket amnesty bill and alter the 2007 Constitution to give the Senate more elected members. Among several implications of the amnesty bill that rankled both opponents of the government and its core Red Shirt supporters, the lightning-rod factor for opponents was the prospective pardon and return from self-exile of the prime ministerтАЩs brother, convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The torrent of events that followed the billтАЩs defeat underlined how deeply polarizing Mr. Thaksin remains, and stoked the resolve of ThailandтАЩs conservative elite to draw on its proven arsenal of street protests and legal maneuvers to remove a Thaksin-backed government that had come to power with a sweeping electoral mandate.

Taking stock of events in the last year, what are some of the key developments and outstanding issues of concern?.... (read more).....

http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/2015/ ... e-year-on/ (http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/2015/05/27/between-two-worlds-thailands-coup-one-year-on/)

[Up2U]

Yellowshirt Leaders Convicted for 2008 Govt House Occupation
May 28, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Six former leaders of the Yellowshirt movement were sentenced to two years in jail today for occupying Bangkok's Government House for nearly four months during a protest in 2008.

All six defendants are founders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), an umbrella organization of the Yellowshirt movement that first organized street protests against then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2005.

The 2008 protests were launched in an effort to oust the government led by a political party allied to Thaksin, who was removed in a coup in 2006...... (read more).....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1432792708&section=11)

[cdnmatt]

"The diplomats, who are ambassadors to the United Nations, hail from Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Comoros, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Ghana, Kiribati, Hungary, Nauru, Vanuatu, and Cameroon."
That's quite the powerhouse! B-)
I'm waiting for the red carpet to be rolled out for the honorable Mr Mugabe one of these days.

heh, sounds like we have a potential NATO adversary in the making.

[Up2U]

Criminal Court dismisses rebellion charges against Thai coup-makers
Submitted by editor2 on Fri, 29/05/2015

The criminal court has refused to take legal action against the Thai junta leader and his associates for staging a coup dтАЩ├йtat against the former elected administration and the former constitution.

According to Post today Online, at around 11 am on Friday, BangkokтАЩs Ratchada Criminal Court dismissed rebellion allegations against Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, Adm Narong Pipatanasai, the Royal Thai Navy Chief and Education Minister, Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, the Royal Thai Air Force Chief and Transport Minister, and Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, former chief of the Royal Thai Police.

The court reasoned that according to Section 48 of the Interim Charter, people who took part in staging the coup dтАЩ├йtat on 22 May 2014 to topple the executive power of the country and the 2007 Constitution cannot be held responsible. Therefore, no legal action can be taken against the Prime Minister and his associates...... (read more).....

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5109

[Up2U]

Police issue alert amid unrest fears
THE SUNDAY NATION May 31, 2015
Move seen as fallout of decision to revoke Thaksin's passports
THE NATIONAL police chief has ordered the police force to be vigilant over possible attempts to cause unrest or disturbances following the Foreign Ministry's revocation of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's passports.

Police General Somyot Poompanmuang issued his order, marked "urgent" and dated on Friday, to police units all over the country, including the Metropolitan Police Bureau, all nine provincial police divisions, and the Border Patrol Police.

"After the revocation of a former political office holder's passports, some people with ill intentions may attempt to cause chaos in the country. All the [police] units should closely monitor suspected groups. There should also be increased security at locations that could be possible targets of attack, such as houses of VIPs," the order said..... (read more)......

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 61308.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Police-issue-alert-amid-unrest-fears-30261308.html)

[Up2U]

Prayut's 'war on corruption' will kick off soon
THE NATION May 28, 2015
ON MONDAY, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will "declare war" on graft to reinforce his government's claimed commitment to carve out corruption.
Representatives from the government, private and third sectors, foreign agencies, diplomats and the media will be invited to Government House to listen to him reaffirm his regime's mission. His speech will be televised live at provincial halls across the country.

"The PM will talk about his personal perception about corruption before he took over the country's administration and how he sees it after becoming the PM, what problems he faces and how is he going to solve them," Sangsit Phiriyarangsan, chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Committee's public relations subcommittee, said yesterday..... (read more)....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 61098.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Prayuts-war-on-corruption-will-kick-off-soon-30261098.html)

[Up2U]

Is the glass half full or half empty? Two different reports on the Thai economy. The spin zone.

PM: 2015 first quarter economy expands
Friday, 29 May 2015 From Issue Vol. XXIII No. 22 By NNT

The Thai economy expanded in the first quarter of 2015 due an increased confidence from investors and tourists, according to the Prime Minister.

PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said in a televised broadcast, citing the National Economic and Social Development BoardтАЩs report, that the Thai economy expanded by 3 percent in the first quarter of 2015 (January-March) due to an increase in private consumption, investment from the government, and expansion in the tourism sector.

He said that this is a positive effect from government spending, and the confidence in the private and public sector from orderliness and security, from the nationтАЩs return to normality.

The employment figure in April 2015 is at 37.5 million people, which is a 0.5 percent increase from the same period of last year..... (read more).....

http://www.pattayamail.com/business/pm- ... ands-47433 (http://www.pattayamail.com/business/pm-2015-first-quarter-economy-expands-47433)

ThailandтАЩs GDP Growth Slowed Last Quarter on Exports Decline

by Suttinee Yuvejwattana
9:33 AM WIB May 18, 2015

ThailandтАЩs economy barely grew last quarter as rising government spending failed to counter falling exports and weakening local demand. The outlook for the rest of the year isnтАЩt that much better.

Gross domestic product rose 0.3 percent in the three months through March from the previous quarter, the National Economic and Social Development Board said in Bangkok Monday. The median of 17 estimates in a Bloomberg survey was for a 0.6 percent contraction. GDP grew 3 percent from a year earlier, compared with a prediction of a 3.4 percent gain.

The agency today cut its forecasts for economic expansion and exports growth this year, and said the second quarter should be better than the first. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha has introduced a nano loans program for low-income earners and pledged to increase investment spending to boost consumption and counter weaker overseas sales.....

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... rt-decline (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-18/thailand-s-economic-growth-slowed-last-quarter-on-export-decline)

[Up2U]

Thailand's political landscape rivals that of 'Hamlet'

2 Jun 2015
WRITER: SONGKRAN GRACHANGNETARA

I was recently invited by the British ambassador to attend a performance of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' organised by The British Council and the British embassy at Chulalongkorn University. I must admit to never having seen Hamlet but I'm glad I finally did because it rather reminded me in parts of what's happening here in Thailand.

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed but in the past year Thailand has been in the headlines of international news desks several times. It started off with the military coup, then Yingluck Shinawatra's impeachment, then the gruesome murders on Koh Tao, then the Rohingya crisis, then Thaksin's passport once again being revoked, and finally, with the players of Thai-owned Leicester City Football Club caught on tape misbehaving with Thai bar girls.

It appears that "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark"; we all know this country has to ask itself some pretty searching questions.

"To be, or not to be: that is the question" for Thailand. Do we want to create a more free and fair society and stake our claim on the international stage, or do we create an unjust and unequal society that benefits the few, closing ourselves off to the modern world like a hermit?

As a country, there is no reason why Thailand can't achieve what South Korea has in terms of development...... (read more)......

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... -of-hamlet (http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/579631/thailand-political-landscape-rivals-that-of-hamlet)

[Surfcrest]

тАв Negative references to ThailandтАЩs royal family. Thailand has very strict laws about this. The authorities have varying ideas on what are тАЬnegative referencesтАЭ so, as a general rule, it is better to just avoid the subject.

Just a reminder, I give quite a bit of slack to this long and fascinating discussion concerning the "protest update" but we need to stay clear of this topic please.

Surfcrest

[Up2U]

Democracy worship in Thailand
By
Mat Carney & Emily Donald, Guest Contributors
тАУ 2 June 2015



Simplistic arguments currently circulating in Thailand are in danger of neglecting the complexities of democracy and ignoring roadblocks to its тАШreturnтАЩ.

In the words of Winston Churchill, тАЬDemocracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to timeтАЭ.

ChurchillтАЩs statement contains some truth; democracy has been a relatively successful project within the realms of Europe, North America and Oceania. But democracy has yet to be fully established elsewhere. Most countries in Southeast Asia are not ruled democratically and this absence of tangible democracy is spurring an emerging trend that can only be described as тАШdemocracy worshipтАЩ.

The people and groups leading this trend have glorified and simplified the basic principles of democracy, elevating the political system to cult-like status. Democracy is discussed and demanded as the instantly required form of government that a state must adhere too. At times individuals describe it, unintentionally and intentionally, as that of perfection and utopianism.

Examples of тАШdemocracy worshipтАЩ can be seen throughout Southeast Asia, however, it is most obvious in Thailand, where democracy is admired and given sacred qualities, with little thought given to the complexities or theory behind it...... (read more).....

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... -thailand/ (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/06/02/democracy-worship-in-thailand/)

[fountainhall]

democracy has been a relatively successful project within the realms of Europe, North America and Oceania. But democracy has yet to be fully established elsewhere. Most countries in Southeast Asia are not ruled democratically and this absence of tangible democracy is spurring an emerging trend that can only be described as тАШdemocracy worshipтАЩ.

The people and groups leading this trend have glorified and simplified the basic principles of democracy, elevating the political system to cult-like status. Democracy is discussed and demanded as the instantly required form of government that a state must adhere too. At times individuals describe it, unintentionally and intentionally, as that of perfection and utopianism.

Examples of тАШdemocracy worshipтАЩ can be seen throughout Southeast Asia, however, it is most obvious in Thailand, where democracy is admired and given sacred qualities, with little thought given to the complexities or theory behind it
Looking back at my post last week, it's gratifying to see that others agree with the basis of what I wrote.

[Up2U]

Well-intended support for coup not in society's best interest
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
June 3, 2015
THE presence of military rule over the past year is just a tip of the iceberg. Beneath it are millions of Thais who support military rule - who beg or even demand a military takeover. They now want the junta, known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), to stay longer than their promised road map to return power to the people next year.
Thus, the struggle is not just to overcome military dictatorship, but to win back the hearts and minds of the millions who reportedly support authoritarianism over democracy.

The millions of these authoritarian-minded citizens, the junta-supporters, want to be ruled in a climate of ersatz peace. They have mistaken the rule by law for the rule of law. They, in effect, forfeit their citizenship to be subjects of a military ruler - and this is not the first, second, third, or even fourth time in the history of Thailand that they have done this.

These people express intolerance in ways that one would not even expect the junta leaders to do..... (read more).....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/ZoQoS

[Rogie]

[b] Well-intended support for coup not in society's best interest


If this is true that millions of Thais prefer the army in charge, where to next?

As far as I can see, Prayuth, from the few times I've seen him on Thai TV doing his sincere leader impersonation, is unlikely to excite much genuine passion amongst those who reckon he's the right man for the times we live in; replace him with a truly messianic leader then, together with those 'millions who reportedly support authoritarianism over democracy', you've got a potential powder keg.

'Harmless' red shirts, yellow shirts, pink shirts today - black / brown shirts tomorrow . . .

[Surfcrest]

If this is true that millions of Thais prefer the army in charge, where to next?

The name of the thread tells of where Thailand was before the military take over and so I think prospectively in terms of uncertainty, violence...a stale mate between Red and Yellow, things are indeed better. Things that needed to be done are getting done.

It's more like a game of Rock, Paper Scissors...where Thaksin has the scissors, Prayuth has the rock and the Constitution is made of paper.

Surfcrest

[Up2U]

NRC group proposes election delay

3 Jun 2015
WRITER: MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

Voters should be asked whether the general election should be delayed by two years to allow national reforms to be completed when they cast a vote on the new charter in a referendum.

That is the proposal of a group of reform councillors who met constitution writers on Wednesday.

Led by Manoon Siriwan, the group is the third to meet the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) to explain their proposed changes to the constitution draft.

Earlier, eight groups in the National Reform Council (NRC) proposed changes to the draft and the CDC will hear their explanations during June 1-6.

Mr Manoon's 26-member group wants to see reforms implemented over the next two years and voters should be asked whether they agree with it at the referendum on the new charter..... (read more)...

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/58 ... tion-delay (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/581523/nrc-group-proposes-election-delay)

[Up2U]

NCPO again blocks FCCT forum on post-coup rights

4 Jun 2015
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS AND AFP

Police meet with members of the Foreign CorrespondentsтАЩ Club of Thailand, issuing letter asking for тАЬcooperationтАЭ in agreeing to cancel tonightтАЩs planned forum on human rights since the coup.

A forum on human rights in post-coup Thailand scheduled for tonight at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand has been shut down by the junta before it even began.

The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights planned to use the FCCT to hold a meeting in conjunction with its release of a report assessing the human-rights situation over the year since the 2014 coup.

But the FCCT posted on its website that the event, which was sponsored by the TLHR, had been cancelled. It is the second time a rights forum planned by the group has been blocked...... (read more)....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... oup-rights (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/582623/ncpo-again-blocks-fcct-forum-on-post-coup-rights)

[Up2U]

Prayut won't rule out longer time in office

4 Jun 2015
WRITER: PATSARA JIKKHAM AND MANOP THIP-OSOD

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has not dismissed the possibility that he could stay on in office for two more years to complete national reform before the next general election is called.

Reporters on Thursday bombarded him with questions about comments from some national reform councillors that his government remain until national reform is achieved before the next election.

"I am neutral. If I am allowed to stay, I will but I will stay with legitimacy, not with power. If everyone wants me to stay, I will stay," said Gen Prayut who led the May 22, 2014 coup.

"But I must be protected from external and internal factors. Regarding the accusation that I want to prolong power, I do not want power because I do not get any benefit. I want the nation to progress but I do not know how to do that. It concerns the constitution," the prime minister said..... (read more).....

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/58 ... -in-office (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/582679/prayut-won-t-rule-out-longer-time-in-office)

[Up2U]

NCPO again blocks FCCT forum on post-coup rights

4 Jun 2015
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS AND AFP

Police meet with members of the Foreign CorrespondentsтАЩ Club of Thailand, issuing letter asking for тАЬcooperationтАЭ in agreeing to cancel tonightтАЩs planned forum on human rights since the coup.

A forum on human rights in post-coup Thailand scheduled for tonight at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand has been shut down by the junta before it even began.

The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights planned to use the FCCT to hold a meeting in conjunction with its release of a report assessing the human-rights situation over the year since the 2014 coup.

But the FCCT posted on its website that the event, which was sponsored by the TLHR, had been cancelled. It is the second time a rights forum planned by the group has been blocked...... (read more)....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... oup-rights (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/582623/ncpo-again-blocks-fcct-forum-on-post-coup-rights)


You can now read the report the junta was trying to suppress. (pdf file)

[Oliver]

Is this widely available in Thailand....and in Thai? It appears to be a devastating account of a state's inexorable slide into a Burma-style military dictatorship. I assume that the lawyers responsible are under arrest or soon will be?

[Up2U]

Is this widely available in Thailand....and in Thai? It appears to be a devastating account of a state's inexorable slide into a Burma-style military dictatorship. I assume that the lawyers responsible are under arrest or soon will be?

Yes in Thai too, no arrests so far.
Junta slammed for banning talks on violation of rights
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION June 5, 2015
BANNING talk on human rights violations under the military junta only proves that the human rights situation is not getting better one year after the coup, said human rights lawyer Yaowalak Anuphan, a key member of the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
The group's panel discussion and report presentation on human rights violations under the military junta, scheduled to be held at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand in Bangkok yesterday evening, was cancelled after the National Council for Peace and Order issued a written order forbidding the FCCT from providing a venue for the group.

"We realise that one year on [since the coup] the NCPO still violate rights continuously and, in fact, it is getting worse," Yaowalak told The Nation.

Yaowalak and her colleagues still planned to visit the FCCT last night to casually converse with people.

"We'll chat and drink but there will be no [political] activity," said Yaowalak, adding that she didn't expect that there would be any arrests.

Earlier yesterday, police arrived at the FCCT to demand the club deny the lawyers entry.

In response, the FCCT demanded a written order banning the event.

"We are not happy of course. We are, of course, very sorry that the event has been cancelled," said Jonathan Head, FCCT president and the BBC's correspondent for Southeast Asia, adding that the FCCT prided itself for being a forum for free debate..... (read more).....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/vQz2O

[Up2U]

PM confident of TIP report boost

Prayut pledges to end trafficking in his term

6 Jun 2015 at 06:53
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: PATSARA JIKKHAM AND PRANGTHONG JITCHAROENKUL

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha inaugurates June 5 as Anti-Human Trafficking Day in a ceremony at Government House on Friday. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is optimistic Thailand will be removed from Tier 3 of the United States' Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report which is expected to be released at the end of this month, saying the country has done all it can to combat human trafficking.

The prime minister has also pledged to end the slave trade during his government's tenure.

Gen Prayut said the country has done its best to deal with human trafficking and that he hoped its efforts would gain international recognition and its TIP report ranking would be upgraded...... (read more).....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... port-boost (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/584017/pm-confident-of-tip-report-boost)

[Up2U]

NCPO credibility
'Staying longer may hurt faith in junta, government'
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
ANAPAT DEECHUAY
THE NATION June 6, 2015

Political groups warn that the public may not like the reform process being extended before an election
POLITICAL factions have warned that the credibility of the National Council for Peace and Order and the National Reform Council will be hit hard if they insist on holding on to power by extending the roadmap to complete the reform process.

Their comments came hot on the heels of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha's remark on Thursday that he might stay on for a longer period than the current plan if people want him to do so to push through difficult reforms.

But Prayut, who is also the NCPO leader, stressed that all parties concerned must ensure he would be protected from countervailing pressures in such an event...... (read more)....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 61760.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Staying-longer-may-hurt-faith-in-junta-government-30261760.html)

[Up2U]

reform vs election
Campaign to seek 2 more years for PM
THE SUNDAY NATION June 7, 2015
Some NRC members to launch signature drive; Wissanu unsure if move will be seen as appropriate
SOME MEMBERS of the junta-appointed National Reform Council (NRC) are now making moves to support Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's continuation in power.

One NRC member said the public could start collecting some 20,000 to 30,000 signatures demanding that Prayut stay on for another two years to ensure the reform process could be completed. He said this would not be initiated by NRC members, as they could be accused of having a vested interest.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday that such a move was possible, by including a clause in the referendum on whether to permit the government to stay on for two more years to carry out reform. But it is another matter whether it would be considered appropriate, he added.

Wissanu said the list of citizens supporting the move could be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration. The deputy premier refused to comment on the need for a two-year extension to carry out reform, adding there was no need to consider the matter at the moment.

Asked if such a move could end up being a repeat of an attempt by Senate members to amend the charter to extend their own term back in 2007, Wissanu said the lesson has already been learnt.

"No matter what is done, it should not be a repeat of past mistakes," he said, adding the matter of amending the provisional charter to allow a referendum on the draft charter is already in the pipeline but the date for submission to the National Legislative Assembly has not been fixed.


....... (read more)....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 61792.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Campaign-to-seek-2-more-years-for-PM-30261792.html)

[Up2U]

Most people support reforms before election: survey
The Nation June 7, 2015
An opinion survey by Rajabhat Suan Dusit University found that 75.11 per cent of 1,249 respondents from around the country agreed with the proposal to have the interim government extend its term two more years to carry out national reforms before holding the next election.
The remaining 24.89 per cent disagree with the proposal. The survey was carried out from Wednesday to Saturday.

[Up2U]

Vote 'could endorse' PM
THE Nation June 8, 2015
NRC man seeks referendum to legitimise Prayut Staying on; activists warn of deepening divide

THE possibility of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha staying in power another two years may disappoint many public figures while social activists have warned the move would lead to a deeper social divide. But a pro-junta reformer said yesterday that a referendum on the matter would legitimise the premier staying in power longer - if he had support of the people.

National Reform Committee member Paiboon Nititawan suggested two referendums be held - one to vote on endorsing the new constitution and one to vote on endorsing Prayut's administration continuing for another two years before a new election is held so national reforms could be completed.

Paiboon has pushed for a campaign to solicit signatures so a referendum can be held to give Prayut legitimacy to continue running the country.

There would be four scenarios if the referendums were held, he said.... (read more).....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 61840.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Vote-could-endorse-PM-30261840.html)

[Up2U]

, Thailand to Scrap Nationwide Minimum Wage
June 6, 2015

BANGKOK (DPA) тАФ Thailand's Labour Ministry is proposing a plan to abandon the country's daily minimum wage in 2016.

The current minimum wage of 300 baht per day (about 9 dollars) applies to all 77 provinces across Thailand.

The wage is not in line with current labour market situation or inflation rate, Ministy of Labour permanent secretary Nakhon Silpa-archa told a seminar on minimum wage.

The ministry said it will determine an appropriate system to set the rate for minimum wage by October, Matichon reported.

The nationwide wage policy was decreed by Yingluck Shinawatra's government in 2013 as part of her election campaign.

Prior to that, minimum wages varied based on each province's standard cost of living.

The rate in Bangkok and six other rich provinces was already set at 300 before 2013.

However, in some provinces, the hike represents up to 70 per cent increase in minimum wage.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/

[Up2U]

BP Opinion: Reform is in a mess

At first glance, Prayut Chan-o-cha's offer to stay another two years or more as unelected prime minister - if asked - invites obvious and cynical reactions. There was plenty of warning the junta had a contingency plan to stick around for a while, dating right from the time of last year's coup. The constantly extended "timetable" for military rule never included a firm deadline. In truth, though, the issue is far more complicated than a simple power grab by the man in green.

Published: 08/06/2015

Gen Prayut says he will only stay under legal terms тАФ which are easy for him to arrange with parliament. He will only stay in office "if everyone wants me" тАФ the statement comes amid suggestions polls might be manipulated...... (read more)......

http://m.bangkokpost.com/opinion/585297

[Smiles]

My guess would be that the coupsters will stay where they are until a specific metric has come, gone, and been successfully wrapped up: think along the lines of "life expectancy".

[Up2U]

UN experts express 'grave concern' on 21 lese majeste cases
Submitted by editor1 on Mon, 08/06/2015
The UN special rapporteurs have sent a letter to the Thai government, expressing grave concerns over the use of Article 112 or the lese majeste law.

The letter, sent to the Thai government on 8 December 2014, named 21 suspects or defendants or convicts under the lese majeste law and Article 14 of the Computer Crime Act.

The 21 are:

Khantawut B,
Tanat Thanawatcharanon, aka Tom Dundee,
Siraphob K,
Nat R.,
Tanet N.
Patiwat Saraiyaem,
Porntip Munkhong,
Prasit Chaisrisa,
Katha P.,
Akaradech E.,
Somyos Prueksakasemsuk,
Apichat P.,
Sombat Boonngam-anong,
Krissada S.,
Saran Chuichai, aka Aum Neko,
Assawin E. B.,
Ekapop Luara,
Wuthipong K.,
Chatwadee Amornpat,
Plutnarin T.,
Yutthasak K..

Four cases, Nat, Siraphop, Thanat and Kanthawut, are under the jurisdiction of the military court.

The UN experts said they have grave concern about the charges, detention and disproportionate sentences, including long-term prison sentences and the intention to revoke national passports and on the chilling effect these legal provisions have on the exercise of freedom of expression in Thailand.

тАЬIn particular, we are concerned that these laws are used to muzzle dissenting opinions and expressions of discontent with the Government or the King, even more so since the military coup dтАЩ├йtat of 22 May 2014,тАЭ stated the letter.

The experts also have тАЬgrave concernтАЭ about the trial of the four cases tried by military courts.

тАЬWe are particularly concerned by the NCPOтАЩs announcement on 25 May 2014 according to which all l├иse-majest├й-related cases committed after that date fall under the jurisdiction of military courts, including when information shared and opinions expressed were done so before that date, but are still available through the Internet,тАЭ stated the letter.

The letter also stated disagreement to one of the Thai governmentтАЩs response, which justify Article 112 by referring to the decision of the Constitutional Court that reaffirmed the constitutionality of Article 112 establishing that this provision is тАЬvital to the countryтАЩs national securityтАЭ

тАЬWe disagree with this interpretation and reiterate our concerns about the inconformity of article 112 of the Criminal Code and article 14 of the Computer Crime Act with ThailandтАЩs international human rights obligations, as enshrined.тАЭ the experts stated.

The UN Human Rights Council made the letter public on 2 June 2015.
http://prachatai.org/english/node/5142

[Up2U]

, Thailand to Scrap Nationwide Minimum Wage
June 6, 2015

BANGKOK (DPA) тАФ Thailand's Labour Ministry is proposing a plan to abandon the country's daily minimum wage in 2016.

The current minimum wage of 300 baht per day (about 9 dollars) applies to all 77 provinces across Thailand.

The wage is not in line with current labour market situation or inflation rate, Ministy of Labour permanent secretary Nakhon Silpa-archa told a seminar on minimum wage.

The ministry said it will determine an appropriate system to set the rate for minimum wage by October, Matichon reported.

The nationwide wage policy was decreed by Yingluck Shinawatra's government in 2013 as part of her election campaign.

Prior to that, minimum wages varied based on each province's standard cost of living.

The rate in Bangkok and six other rich provinces was already set at 300 before 2013.

However, in some provinces, the hike represents up to 70 per cent increase in minimum wage.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/

No Immediate Plan to Scrap Minimum Wage, Thai Govt Clarifies
June 8, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ The Ministry of Labor says it has no immediate plans to revoke the former government's minimum wage policy, despite media reports from the weekend that suggested otherwise.

"There has been news that the committee on labor wage has reached a consensus to abolish the national 300 baht minimum wage, and will introduce a 'floating' system of wage," Arak Prommanee, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Labor, said today. "That news is not true.".... (read more)....
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1433751262&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Thai Govt Not Worried About Foreign Opinion on Prayuth's Power Extension
8 June 2015.

BANGKOK тАФ Thailand's military government is not concerned with the international community's reaction to a proposal that junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-och stay in power for two more years, a spokesperson said.

"There has been no reaction from foreign [governments], and it is not something that should concern us either," said Maj.Gen. Weerachon Sukhondhapatipak.

He was referring to a measure, put forth by 26 members of the junta-appointed National Reform Council (NRC), that calls for holding a referendum on whether Gen. Prayuth should push back elections for two more years in order to complete his governmentтАЩs reform projects.

"Sometimes, foreigners have to listen to Thai people's opinions," Maj.Gen. Weerachon said. "If foreigners disagree with some issues that are the desires of Thai people, to whom should we give more importance, fellow Thai people or foreigners?".... (read more)....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1433746170&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

The Thai juntaтАЩs doublespeak
By
Thongchai Winichakul & Tyrell Haberkorn, Guest Contributors
тАУ 8 June 2015Posted in: Thailand

ThailandтАЩs rulers have made doublespeak a central strategy of its rule and turned it into an art of absurdity.

During the first year following the coup by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on May 22, 2014, the junta in Thailand summoned at least 751 people, including a large number of intellectuals, leaders of local political networks, and those whom the junta considered opponents. These people were variously detained, interrogated, intimidated, or simply warned to cease their opposition to the coup. Some were subsequently charged, but most were released after signing a document that they would not engage in any political activities against the junta.

The junta told the Thai public that the purpose of the summons was тАЬattitude adjustmentтАЭ.

During the first year under the junta, domestic criticism has been swiftly and, often publicly, punished. Academic and public forums on politics are disrupted or cancelled, or at the very least subject to surveillance. Highly-politicised prosecutions against those accused of l├иse majest├й and politicians associated with the previous government take place with little attention to due process. Resource grabs across the country at the expense of rural citizensтАЩ land and livelihood are widespread. All of this takes place in the name of тАЬreconciliationтАЭ.

тАЬReformтАЭ is another keyword used by the regime to describe the changes enacted via junta order or envisioned in the draft constitution. But rather than improvement, these measures amount to winding the clock back 30 years with respect to democracy, decentralisation, and the role of the military in politics..... (read more).......

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... ublespeak/ (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/06/08/the-thai-juntas-doublespeak/)

[Up2U]

08 June 2015
Anti-Junta Protest in Khon Kaen, Despite Prayuth's Warnings

BANGKOK тАФ Nearly 100 pro-democracy activists staged a rare rally against the Thai junta today, hours after junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha reminded the public that protests are still banned in Thailand under his military regime.

"Don't try to fool me and act like you can do or say anything тАШbecause we are a democracy,тАЩ" Gen. Prayuth said at an anti-corruption event in Bangkok this morning. "Do you misunderstand something? Today, I am the one makes the rules. Previous governments couldnтАЩt do that. But today, I made the rules, and all of you have to follow them."..... (read more)......

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1433764390 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1433764390)

[Up2U]

NRC panel seeks clause to extend regime tenure

Plan would give government 2 more years in power

9 Jun 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: MONGKOL BANGPRAPA, PATSARA JIKKHAM & WASSANA NANUAM

The National Reform Council's (NRC) political reform panel has proposed adding a provisional clause in the draft charter to extend the interim government's power for another two years to allow national reforms to be implemented.

This would be instead of asking the public via a referendum, said panel chairman Sombat Thamrongthanyawong.

The proposal is part of the panel's charter recommendations forwarded to the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC)..... (read more)....
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... ime-tenure (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/586377/nrc-panel-seeks-clause-to-extend-regime-tenure)

[Up2U]

The paradox of resurgent absolutism and the abolition of ThailandтАЩs martial law
8 June 2015

Author: Peter Drysdale, East Asia Forum

ThailandтАЩs coup after the political stand-off last year is just over a year old. As predicted, the aftermath of the coup saw the growth rate of Southeast AsiaтАЩs second largest economy slashed by more than half with growth this year running at around 3 per cent, compared with its past and potential rate of growth around or above 6.5 per cent.

Superficially the economy looks as if itтАЩs in better shape than it was last year when there was a sharp initial contraction in GDP. There is calm on the streets after the protests that surrounded the coup. Income growth is at least up at 3 per cent. Business is more confident and tourism is back up. Real private investment is rising moderately. But these economic data are hardly reassuring. Both output growth and tourism levels are still less than half their pre-coup levels. Private investment is well below its peak and consumer sentiment is weak. The economy remains fragile and there is little prospect of a strong recovery without resolution of the ongoing political crisis.

The secret of ThailandтАЩs past growth has been its open, flexible and globally connected economy тАФ a thriving hub of production networks that enhance regional productivity and efficiency. Thailand has been at the centre of efforts to regionalise the ASEAN market and was in a position to take most advantage of the regional opportunity. Not only do political troubles and the coup pose the usual issues of international investor confidence for Thailand itself, but they have also raised questions about the regimeтАЩs ability and commitment to follow through on the ASEAN Economic Community undertaking...... (read more)......

http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2015/06/08 ... rtial-law/ (http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2015/06/08/the-paradox-of-resurgent-absolutism-and-the-abolition-of-thailands-martial-law/)

[Up2U]

ThailandтАЩs Quiet Dictatorship
Eliza King 06.09.15

тАЬOur country has seen so much trouble because we have had too much democracy.тАЭ This extraordinary statement was made at a press conference on March 23 by ThailandтАЩs Prime Minister and the man behind last yearтАЩs military coup, General Prayuth Chan-ocha. The ruling junta, ironically named the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), came to power on May 22, 2014 after ousting the government of Yingluck Shinawatra in a bloodless takeover. Now, more than a year later, the military regime is firmly embedded in ThailandтАЩs political life and has grown more and more repressive, going to outlandish extents to silence critics...... (read more)......

http://www.internationalpolicydigest.or ... tatorship/ (http://www.internationalpolicydigest.org/2015/06/09/thailand-s-quiet-dictatorship/)

[Up2U]

PM says the government will stick to roadmap and he is bored with powers
in Politics | June 9, 2015

The government will stick to the roadmap and all the other issues which are not in the roadmap will depend on the interim charter, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha after a joint meeting of the cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order on Tuesday.

He pleaded with members of the media to stop pestering him with the same old questions such as whether his government will stay on for another two years to carry out reforms...... (read more).....

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-say ... ith-powers (http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-says-the-government-will-stick-to-roadmap-and-he-is-bored-with-powers)

[Up2U]

Thailand haunted by the ghost of absolutism
6 June 2015

Author: Patrick Jory, University of Queensland

In April ThailandтАЩs military dictatorship lifted the martial law imposed on the country since the coup against the democratically-elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra in May 2014. It was a characteristically contemptuous and deceitful move apparently designed to reassure investors and international tourists.

In place of the democratically-elected government, the junta invoked Article 44 of the provisional constitution its lawyers had drafted following the coup. The sweeping powers of Article 44 confers General Prayut Chan-ocha and the National Council for Peace and Order with absolute power тАФ even if the actual use of the powers allowed under the article is circumscribed by political realities. Under martial law the actions of the regime were at least subject to the military courts. Now there is no legal oversight whatsoever. Thailand has reverted to an absolutist state.... (read more)....

http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2015/06/06 ... bsolutism/ (http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2015/06/06/thailand-haunted-by-the-ghost-of-absolutism/)

[Up2U]

Interim charter aims for unity

ANALYSIS: Of seven amendments, one lets previously banned politicians serve on NLA

11 Jun 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: POST REPORTERS


The seven amendments to the interim charter aim to forge national reconciliation, and give previously banned politicians the opportunity to work with the current administration through a possible cabinet reshuffle.

The reshuffle is expected to focus on tackling the sluggish economy.

One of the seven points will allow politicians who have previously been banned from politics to be appointed as National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members.

Under the current interim charter, NLA members must never have been stripped of voting rights. Meanwhile, the amendment proposes to only bar those who are currently serving out their five-year political ban from becoming NLA members..... (read more)....

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/58 ... -for-unity (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/588653/interim-charter-aims-for-unity)

[Up2U]

Panel grills Thailand over rights record

11 Jun 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESRC) grilled Thailand over its treatment of human rights defenders and the "excessive use" of the lese majeste law during a recent session in Geneva.

The 55th session of the CESCR last week studied a report from Thailand on how it is implementing the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

It was the first time the country has submitted a report on the covenant since it became a signatory 16 years ago...... (read more).....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... hts-record (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/588749/panel-grills-thailand-over-rights-record)

[Up2U]

NACC reluctantly postpones Yingluck hearing

10 Jun 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: ARIANE KUPFERMAN-SUTTHAVONG

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has given former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra until June 30 to report to the commission to acknowledge charges over the payment of compensation to red-shirt victims of political protests.

Ms Yingluck failed to appear before the commissioners Tuesday as scheduled and she asked to postpone the meeting without providing a suitable future date, said NACC member Vicha Mahakun.

The former premier and 33 other members of her government are accused of abusing their authority and acting dishonestly in paying costly compensation to the families of red-shirt protesters who were wounded or killed during political demonstrations from 2005 to 2010..... (read more)....

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/58 ... ck-hearing (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/587581/nacc-reluctantly-postpones-yingluck-hearing)

[Up2U]

Public faces dilemma over referendum
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK,
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION June 11, 2015
Observers warn of Catch-22 situation - rejection of charter would extend junta rule
WHILE critics say amendments to the interim charter are aimed at altering the road map to facilitate an extended reign by the military government, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insists that his regime will not stay on until 2017.

"I will not stay with you for the rest of my life. I think I will not be with you in 2017, indeed I have to go in 2016," Prayut told people in the eastern province of Rayong, which he visited to inspect an irrigation project yesterday. The country has problems because its administration was abused, he said. "What I did [to correct the mistakes] last year will be finished by next year and handed over to the new government."

Prayut said he would stick to his timeframe under the road map but critics believe the decision to amend the provisional charter is a clear indication that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is seeking to stay on in power through legal means.

The amendment will allow the referendum to ask people whether they will endorse the new constitution and other questions such as whether the military government should continue.

Observers said people are caught in a Catch-22 conundrum. If they reject the draft charter, they would in effect be letting the junta stay on to oversee another round of charter writing..... (read more).....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 62077.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Public-faces-dilemma-over-referendum-30262077.html)

[Up2U]

Interesting read (and video) about journalist, Pravit Rojanaphruk, who sometimes appears in the Nation.
тАШFreedomтАЩ Under Thai Military Rule: Pravit Rojanaphruk at Oslo Freedom Forum
Pravit Rojanaphruk takes the stage at Oslo Freedom Forum - May 26, 2015.

At last monthтАЩs Oslo Freedom Forum, I watch on as Thai journalist, friend and colleague, Pravit Rojanaphruk, plays with an interactive art installation, in an exhibit best described as a simple act of (Re)Drawing the Dictator.

There were a whole host of digital dictators to select from: with participants taking turns erasing, redrawing, and generally defacing some of contemporary historyтАЩs most villainous characters. Mao Zedong and Kim Jong Un prove especially popular, as do old favorites, Hitler and Stalin. There is one selection that perplexes, with some asking who the depicted тАШcoupleтАЩ are (for those still wondering, these are the PhilippinesтАЩ own Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos).

Having disappeared in search of coffee, I return twenty minutes later to find Pravit collecting pages from the printer.

тАЬI got the whole Asia set!тАЭ Pravit says, excitedly. тАЬWell, except for one, maybe.тАЭ
Pravit Rojanaphruk defaces a digital MaoтАКтАФтАКтАШEffacing MemoryтАЩ exhibitтАКтАФтАКOslo Freedom Forum, May 26 2015

Journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk had spent much of the past two decades covering political developments in his native Thailand (where drawing on authoritarian figures is illegal).

A year earlier, on May 23, 2014, in the hours following the announcement of ThailandтАЩs latest military coup, he was busily conducting interviews for international news networks. For Pravit, the coupтАКтАФтАКthe thirteenth тАШsuccessfulтАЩ overthrow since the end of absolute monarchy, and the second in a decadeтАКтАФтАКmarked a dangerous turning point in ThailandтАЩs deeply divided setting..... (read more)....

https://medium.com/@leesebkk/freedom-un ... 4a7eb366f0 (https://medium.com/@leesebkk/freedom-under-thai-military-rule-pravit-rojanaphruk-at-oslo-freedom-forum-404a7eb366f0)

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Junta Tells Reporters to Stop Asking Confrontational Questions
June 12, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Thailand's military junta has instructed reporters not to ask any questions that will upset government officials and affect their reputations.

Lt.Gen. Suchart Pongput, a junta official in charge of media relations, told newspaper editors yesterday that reporters should only ask the Prime Minister and Cabinet members "constructive questions" that do not "incite" conflict or confrontation...... (read more)....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1434088181 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1434088181)

Thailand's military junta has instructed reporters not to ask any questions that will upset government officials and affect their reputations.You couldn't make it up. Hang on, haven't I used that phrase in another thread recently?

[Up2U]

Thai-US Relations
US decision on 2016 Cobra Gold welcomed
Marisa Chimprabha
Nophakhun Limsamarnphun
The Nation June 13, 2015
State Dept confirms military exercise will continue despite opposition to coup
THE government yesterday welcomed the US' decision to hold its annual Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand next year, saying it is a "positive sign" that reflects the countries' long and close relationship.

"We regard it as a positive sign that shows that the US still gives importance to the security alliance with Thailand and the region," said PM's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, who also supervises the National Intelligence Agency.

Senior US State Department official Scot Marciel told a congressional hearing on Thursday that the annual Cobra Gold exercise was important to the US and the region. The administration decided this week to go ahead with preparations for the 2016 edition.

"However the exercise would be scaled down again because of the political situation in Thailand," Marciel added...... (read more).....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 62263.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/US-decision-on-2016-Cobra-Gold-welcomed-30262263.html)

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Singaporean Officials Name Orchid Species After Thai Junta Leader
June 12, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Government officials in Singapore have honored Thai junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha by naming an orchid species after him and his wife, Thai officials told reporters today.

Today Gen. Prayuth and his wife Naraporn Chan-ocha visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where one of the orchid species on exhibition has been renamed Dendrobium Prayuth Naraporn Chan-ocha, according to a statement released by the Government House.

Gen. Prayuth arrived in Singapore yesterday for a two-day state visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations. The general met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for bilateral talks..... (read more)...

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1434110982 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1434110982)

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Coup rumour slammed as groundless

14 Jun 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: WASSANA NANUAM

The army spokesman on Saturday rejected a rumour about a counter-coup being plotted against the military regime.

Col Winthai Suwaree also dismissed talk that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had invoked his special powers under Section 44 of the interim charter to sack army chief Udomdej Sitabutr, who is deputy defence minister.

Col Winthai said the rumours had gone viral on social media, but were groundless. They could be the work of people trying to create a public disturbance...... (read more).......

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/59 ... groundless (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/591445/coup-rumour-slammed-as-groundless)

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CONCERNED' over election delay
Thai-US ties hinge on 'return of democracy'
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE SUNDAY NATION June 14, 2015
STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL 'CONCERNED' OVER POSSIBLE DELAY IN ELECTIONS
THE UNITED STATES still has some reservations about normalising bilateral ties with Thailand, with US charge d'affaires in Thailand W Patrick Murphy saying yesterday that Thai-US relations will return to "full potential once democracy is restored".

Murphy made the remark in a reply to a question by The Nation on Twitter in relation to a recent comment by senior US State Department official Scot Marciel.

Marciel told a congressional hearing in the United States on Thursday that the Cobra Gold - Asia-Pacific's largest annual multinational military exercise - would take place in Thailand next year, although it would be scaled down.

Marciel added that the time frame for elections in Thailand, once tentatively scheduled for autumn 2015, and then early 2016, "could slip even further"...... (read more)......

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/aVbTE

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Thai Junta Dismisses Counter-Coup Rumor
June 14, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Thailand's ruling military junta has dismissed a rumor circulating among supporters of the Redshirt movement about an impending counter-coup.

"Let me insist that it is not true," said Col. Winthai Suvaree, a junta spokesperson. "It's an attempt to release news that is not constructive. And I believe that it is an attempt by certain people who want to sow confusion in society. They have ill intentions toward the country."

He was referring to a rumor spread on social media among the Redshirts, who supported the government toppled by the junta last May, about a group of disgruntled senior military commanders poised to overthrow junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The rumor asserted that the conspirators were backed by Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda, a former Prime Minister who is currently a top adviser to His Majesty the King, and who many Redshirts believe has a rocky relationship with Gen. Prayuth.... .(read more)....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1434260194&typecate=06&section=)

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Poll likely in August 2016 if referendum passed: govt
THE NATION June 15, 2015
THAILAND is expected to hold a general election in August 2016, if the draft charter is approved in a national referendum, said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.
In the event of a "yes" vote for the draft constitution, the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) will move to prepare the organic laws in February, 2016, and table them to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) for approval between March and April next year.

Afterwards, it will have to be endorsed by the Constitutional Court.vAuthorities will have between July and August next year to prepare the election.

"Therefore it is likely that the poll will be held in August," Wissanu said. The results would be announced within 30 days.... (read more).....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/b7oro

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Junta threatens to shut down FCCT's building to stop discussion
By Coconuts Bangkok June 15, 2015

For the second time this month, Thailand's military government has ordered an international press club in Bangkok to cancel a discussion panel.

Two weeks after the junta forbade a discussion of alleged human rights abuses during its year in power, the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand was today ordered to cancel a panel planned to discuss Thailand's lese majeste law on Wednesday...... (read more)....

http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/06/15/j ... discussion (http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/06/15/junta-threatens-shut-down-fccts-building-stop-discussion)

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Thailand Seeks New Central Bank Head With Economy in Trouble
by Suttinee Yuvejwattana
June 16, 2015

A former International Monetary Fund economist, a woman and a central banker who defended the baht before it was floated 18 years ago are among the likely candidates to be the new governor of the Bank of Thailand.

Five applicants have met the criteria of the central bankтАЩs selection committee, which will propose at least two names to the finance minister by July 2 after interviews on Tuesday, according to Krisda Chinavicharana, head of the finance ministryтАЩs Fiscal Policy Office. Once he makes his choice, he will seek the CabinetтАЩs approval, after which the prime minister gets the KingтАЩs endorsement..... (read more)......

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... st-of-five (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-15/thailand-to-choose-new-central-bank-governor-from-list-of-five)

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All roads lead to entrenched military rule

16 Jun 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: ATIYA ACHAKULWISUT

Whether the new elections are held in August 2016, 2017 or 2020, the polls are losing their game-changing power as the military regime turns all roads to its advantage.

The Thaksin-Shinawatra camp must have seen how the powers-that-be have now strengthened their position to extend way into the future.

That would explain why both former PM Thaksin, his younger sister, former PM Yingluck, his son Panthongtae and his daughter Pinthongta, are suddenly actively updating their Facebook and Instagram accounts after a long hiatus.

It looks like that is all the Shinawatras can do for now тАФ maintain their presence and keep themselves alive in the public memory. Why is the election, the most potent weapon on the Thaksin side, losing power?...... (read more)......

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... itary-rule (http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/593777/all-roads-lead-to-entrenched-military-rule)

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NRC seeks to avoid failure on reform

16 Jun 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: AEKRACH SATTABURUTH & MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

The National Reform Council (NRC) expects to clear at least half of the legislative bills related to national reforms before it is dissolved, in a bid to avoid being branded a failure, said an NRC source.

NRC chairman Thienchay Kiranandana yesterday ordered all 18 reform committees to speed up their work, particularly on some 30 bills needed for the reform framework, before the council is disbanded after the vote on the draft charter....... (read more)......

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/59 ... -on-reform (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/593353/nrc-seeks-to-avoid-failure-on-reform)

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New York Times
The Contrecoup in Thailand

By DAVID STRECKFUSS
June 16, 2015

KHON KAEN, Thailand тАФ Thailand hasnтАЩt had as many coups and constitutions as, say, the Dominican Republic or Venezuela, but it outdoes them for fastest turnover: The average lifespan of a Thai constitution is a bit more than four years.

In May of last year, after months of street protests, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha and other senior military officials overthrew the elected government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. And the junta, following that hallowed tradition of Thai coup-makers, promptly abolished the countryтАЩs 18th тАЬpermanentтАЭ constitution.

It proposed a new one in April. Supposedly the centerpiece of the regimeтАЩs roadmap to тАЬsustainable democracy,тАЭ the draft constitution is a major step backward...... (read more)....

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/06/17/op ... ?referrer= (http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/06/17/opinion/the-contrecoup-in-thailand.html?referrer=)

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Cops Hunting Down Counter-Coup Rumormongers
June 16, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Thai police say they are tracking down whoever is behind a rumor about an impending counter-coup against the military junta that seized power from an elected government one year ago.

Pol.Gen. Somyot Pumpanmuang, commander of the Royal Thai Police, said he has instructed the technological crime division team to investigate the incident.

The rumor, spread among the mostly anti-junta Redshirts, alleged that a group of senior military commanders is plotting to overthrow junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha..... (read more)...

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1434436373&section=11)

[Smiles]

Is there an official name for a coup being overthrown by another coup? Or is it Just-Another-Coup (JAC)?
There was one in Russia in 1917 (i.e. the Social Democrats making a coup over the Ancienne Regime ... then the Bolsheviks coup tossing out the S.D.) but something tells me a coup against the coup in Thailand will hardly be as world shaking. But it might be interesting, as the second coup will undoubtedly be followed near on by a third coup (JAK-3). Hard to keep track in LoS.

[Up2U]

I don't know - counter-coup?

[Up2U]

, June 17, 2015
Red & Yellow Politicians 'Invited' to Discuss Junta's Reforms

BANGKOK тАФ Politicians from Thailand's two rival political camps have been asked by the military junta to attend a forum on its national reform efforts this Friday.

Officials say the politicians were invited by the juntaтАЩs reform-promoting agency, the Center for Reconciliation and Reform (CRR), which has organized several forums in the past for prominent political leaders, academics, and activists.

Independently organized forums on politics remain banned by the junta, which seized power in May 2014.

According to officials, the upcoming forum will be held on 19 June at the Army Club in Bangkok. Among those invited are top leaders from the Redshirt movement - which supported the government toppled by the junta - and their rivals, the Yellowshirts, who campaigned against the former government for six months prior to the coup..... (read more).....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1434540807&typecate=06&section=)

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Experts cast doubt over political roadmap

18 Jun 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: NATTAYA CHETCHOTIROS

The political roadmap has not changed, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has insisted on dismissing rumours that the military regime plans to remain in power for at least two more years. But not many are convinced.

Political pundits are certain the draft charter is doomed and will derail the roadmap, enabling the regime to continue its rule and postpone the new poll until a new charter is in place.

According to the roadmap, the new general election will be held next August if - and that is a big "if" - if the charter is approved by the National Reform Council (NRC) and the referendum...... (read more)......

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... map=%5B%5D (http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/596260/experts-cast-doubt-over-political-roadmap?fb_action_ids=10206105955462120&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B894447110628061%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.likes%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D)

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Police 'know source behind counter-coup rumour'
The Nation June 18, 2015
National police chief General Somyot Poompanmuang said yesterday the police could identify the person who allegedly spread rumours about a possible counter-coup.
He said the rumour was spread via website Daengdeedee.com. The person in question was overseas. But the police chief declined say if the person had been actively involved in politics.... (read more).....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/7wpCy

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Prayuth interviewed in Singapore
PM Prayut won't rush Thailand's transition to democracy
Thailand will not have a general election unless certain conditions have been met, says Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha in the wake of opposition to his military regime.

By Panu Wongcha-um, Channel NewsAsia
POSTED: 18 Jun 2015 14:23

BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minster Prayut Chan-ocha refused to rush ThailandтАЩs transition to democracy, saying certain preconditions need to be met before an election can be held.

тАЬFirst, will the next election be peaceful? Secondly, who will be the next government? Will there be conflicts and protests again? Thirdly, will Thailand be able to continue with the various reforms?" asked General Prayut in a rare interview with Singaporean media in Bangkok on Wednesday (Jun 17)...... (read more)....

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asi ... um=twitter (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/pm-prayut-won-t-rush/1923870.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)

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FCCT debate on lese majeste law
Govt slammed over move to ban FCCT debate on lese majeste law
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION June 19, 2015
SPEAKERS scheduled to discuss the lese majeste law before the event was banned have slammed the government, saying it has made things worse by further limiting the freedom to publicly discuss the controversial law.
"Not surprised, but disappointed. [The ban] can only hurt Thailand in the long run. Thailand is facing big changes and those changes involve the [lese majeste] law," said David Streckfuss, a Khon Kaen-based scholar who has written a book on the subject.

"This is one of the most suppressive laws against freedom of expression in the world in the past centuries. The point is that the issue is there whether the regime acknowledges or not, period."

The talk was scheduled to take place at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand on Wednesday and was organised by the club.

The FCCT cancelled the event after the National Council for Peace and Order verbally ordered the club to call it off under threat of being shut down.... (read more).....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/VlDLM

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An interview on Al Jazeera with Prayut Chan-o-cha
Prayuth Chan-ocha: 'No one else could do the job'
Thailand's prime minister talks about his military takeover, press freedom, poverty, and constitutional reform.

13 Jun 2015

After weeks of unrest in Thailand between groups supporting and opposing the democratically-elected Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the country's military forces made their move.

"We do not need power-seeking politicians to cause trouble and benefit by ruling the country for the sake of their political party and themselves. I will not let that happen."..... Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha

Early in the morning on May 20, 2014, the head of the Thai army, General Prayuth Chan-ocha declared martial law. Shortly thereafter, he took over as prime minister and promised to bring the country to a better place.
He promised a new constitution and said he would bring "happiness" and reconciliation to the people.

But his critics have issued fierce denunciations of his leadership.

Opposition groups complain they have been banned from political work. They say drafts of the new constitution aims to give vast power to the military and is therefore a threat to democracy.

They also accuse the prime minister of increasingly undermining the media, even personally threatening journalists.

Prayuth Chan-ocha, the prime minister of Thailand, sat down with Talk to Al Jazeera to respond to his critics and discuss his military takeover, press freedoms in Thailand, the migrant crisis and human trafficking, poverty, the constitutional reforms he is working on, and what will happen when elections take place...... (read more, video interview)....

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/tal ... 12303.html (http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/2015/06/prayuth-chan-ocha-job-150612123012303.html)

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Thai Royalists Thank Prayuth for Suppressing Discussion of Monarchy
June 18, 2015

PHRAE тАФ A group of ultra-royalists in northern Thailand have formally thanked junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha for "defending" the monarchy with his strict enforcement of the country's lese majeste law.

Kanathip Moodcharoen, the chairman of a local association called People Who Love the King, submitted the group's thank-you letter through Phrae provinceтАЩs governor this morning.

Kanathip told reporters he and his fellow activists are impressed by Gen. Prayuth's "dedication" to enforcing Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Codes, a law known as lese majeste that criminalizes insulting the king, queen, heir-apparent, and regent with up to 15 years in prison.

The law, which is the harshest of its kind in the world, is frequently used to block any discussion of the monarchy, drawing condemnation from human rights organizations who say it used to stifle free speech.

This week, the military junta ordered the Foreign CorrespondentsтАЩ Club of Thailand to cancel a panel discussion on the role of the lese majeste law in Thai society, reportedly citing a concern that the event would "sow disunity in Thai society, and encourage people to break the law and stir up unrest."..... (read more)......

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1434627359&section=11)

[Up2U]

Fighting the junta from abroad: Struggle goes on for ThailandтАЩs political exiles
By Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices Jun 18, 2015

By Asanee Waree

Hundreds of political asylum seekers have fled Thailand to escape the pursuit of the Thai military regime since last yearтАЩs coup. Renowned activists like Aum Neko and Jarun Ditthaapichai have shared their stories of exile, highlighting the threats to their lives. But for lesser known exiles, the choice to speak out is fraught, and tempered by hopes of a quiet return.

The danger of living in military-ruled Thailand

Game, a 19-year-old student, lived in fear of his safety before he escaped from military-ruled Thailand. тАЬI was afraidтАж My family was afraid. My friends were afraid,тАЭ he said. тАЬThey didnтАЩt even want to talk with me because IтАЩm targeted.тАЭ....... (read more).....

http://asiancorrespondent.com/133635/fi ... al-exiles/ (http://asiancorrespondent.com/133635/fighting-the-junta-from-abroad-interviews-with-thailands-political-exiles/)

[Up2U]

3 Dao Din Khon Kaen student activists arrested
Submitted by editor1 on Fri, 19/06/2015
The police have detained three student activists from the Dao Din group of Khon Kaen University, interrupting their plan to show moral support to seven other group members wanted by the police.

Kwanhathai Patumtawonsakul, Jiratchaya Hannarong and Krit Sangsurin were arrested at 1 pm when they were on their way to Khon KaenтАЩs Democracy Monument. The police confiscated seven drawings of the seven Dao Din members who were earlier summoned to report in for displaying placards against the junta.

They are now detained incommunicado at Sri Patcharin military camp.

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5176

[Up2U]

Dao Din vows to fight culture of coups
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION June 20, 2015
Group of 7 students happy to be 'flies who won't let the cat enjoy its meal'
AS THE DEADLINE for them to surrender to police for repeatedly and publicly opposing the military junta was set to expire yesterday, the seven wanted Dao Din students insisted from an undisclosed location that they were fighting for a legitimate cause and refused to relent.

"I think there are others who may want to come out [to oppose the National Council for Peace and Order] but don't dare to. We want to show them that we can fight and create political space that's beyond the red and yellow [political] divides," said Suphachai Phukrongpoly, one of the seven members of Dao Din.

"I feel that the military coup is a terrible culture in that it forces people to think alike," said Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, 23, the most expressive among his peers, all law students from Khon Kaen University and all from the Northeast. "It's tantamount to cutting short the learning process [of society]."..... (read more).....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/oYdya

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Democracy activists warned to be careful
THE NATION June 22, 2015
ANY anti-government groups planning to celebrate the 83rd anniversary of the Siamese Revolution of 1932 - sometimes called the advent of Thai democracy - on Wednesday better not stray out of bounds, PM's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana warned yesterday.
Thailand is currently being governed under special circumstances, so any groups that have a problem with that must follow the law and organise constructive activities.

With speculation about a looming counter-coup rife on the Internet, there appears to be attempts to cause a rift between the government and the National Council for Peace and Order, Suwaphan said.

"They spread the rumours systematically. The government knows the people involved in the process but only their nicknames. We don't know who they are. We know where the information was released from, like what countries. They are just a distortion of the truth to cause misunderstanding,'' he said.

The political struggle is a struggle of ideologies, he said.

"It's normal that when there's a government, there will be an opposition. We just have to ensure fair play. We don't have to kill the chickens before the monkeys," he said, using a euphemism for causing fear among the population by singling out a few for punishment. "We just have to rationalise or resort to reason."

The government has not been able to extradite people embracing different opinions because they're still putting up a fight, he said.

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/YNgPo

[Up2U]

'Debate, criticism crucial to foster a democratic society'
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION June 23, 2015
CREATING a culture of debate and criticism and also respect for the political opinions of others are essential to ensure a democratic Thailand, a symposium marking 83 years since the end of absolute monarchy concluded yesterday.
People "should be willing to face the truth and respect differing political opinions and debate," social critic Sulak Sivaraksa said.

Many Thais simply do not know how to debate, he said. "Thais do not dare to argue or pose questions," he said...... (read more).....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/y1HyS

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Human rights organizations urge Thai junta to drop charges against student activists
Submitted by editor1 on Tue, 23/06/2015

Thai and foreign human rights organizations issued statements, urging the junta to drop all charges against Dao Din, the anti-coup student activists from northeastern province of Khon Kaen.

On Monday, the Human Rights Lawyers Association (HRLA) and the Union of Civil Liberty (UCL) issued statements on the judicial harassment against on 19 June which 3 students of the Dao Din, an anti-coup student activist group based in Khon Kaen, were arrested and detained for drawing paintings.

The HRLA and the UCL stated that the studentsтАЩ action was their fundamental rights which is upheld by the constitution and the international agreements on human rights. They should be allowed to peacefully express their opinion. The legal proceeding against them will not be beneficial for the public...... (read more)......

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5189

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Opinion
, 83 years of democracy sabotage in Thailand
Submitted by editor1 on Mon, 22/06/2015
Free Thais for Human Rights and Democracy

June 24 marks 83 years since absolute monarchy was ended in Thailand, by a prodemocracy revolution. However during the last 83 years, democracy has not been allowed to become fully established and government institutions to develop because of regular military Coup dтАЩ├йtat, approx 12 successful to date. This coupled with the 19 constitutions that have been mostly imposed on the Thai people have weakened political development and restricted progress towards a mature democracy in Thailand

Even though Thai people, especially university students, have slowly become more aware of these core problems and observed how constant military interventions have restricted the growth of Thailand into a mature democracy, they have been killed in the hundreds by the Royal Thai army whenever they have attempted to protest for their basic democratic rights. On October 14 1973, October 6 1976, May 1992 and May 2010 peaceful protests were met with brutal military force with peaceful protesters massacred by the military at the behest of the conservative Royalist establishment.

We would like to point out that in the last 10 years the crisis has politically become more serious as the country has divided into two camps. The majority on one side is prodemocracy and stand behind their elected representatives while on the other side is the minority anti-democracy group supported by the Military, the old establishment royalist elite, the conservative judiciary and other so called independent institutions under their control.

Over the last 10 years 4 democratically elected governments have been removed by both military and judicial Coup dтАЩ├йtat and this has directly resulted in the divisions we see in Thai society today, with the will of the majority of Thai people constantly thwarted by the anti-democracy minority..... (read more)......

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5181? ... m=facebook (http://prachatai.org/english/node/5181?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook)

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NCPO to ask reporters not to upset PM

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) plans to gather over 200 local and foreign journalists next week to ask them not to upset Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and other cabinet ministers with provocative questions.

Published: 23/06/2015
Writer: Wassana Nanuam

The meeting will be the largest media summons by the NCPO since the 2014 coup.

The meeting, between journalists, soldiers and police, will be held at the national police headquarters to urge reporters to ask "constructive questions" and not to "distort facts" in their reports, Lt Gen Suchart Pongput, commander of the Army's Signal Department, said...... (read more)......

http://m.bangkokpost.com/topstories/600340

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Ex-PAD leaders 'on road to bankruptcy'

Thirteen former leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) face bankruptcy after the Appeals Court ordered them to pay around 600 million baht in compensation to Airports of Thailand for the damage they caused in 2008, according to former activist Maleerat Kaewka.

Published: 23/06/2015
Writer: Online Reporters

Mrs Maleerat, 61, an activist during the Oct 14, 1973 student uprising, is one of the 13 PAD leaders named defendants in a civil suit filed by the AoT over the occupation of Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports for eight days in 2008 by the PAD's yellow-shirt supporters.

The protest brought air services at the two international airports to a halt.

The 12 other defendants were -- Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul, Pibhop Dhongchai, Suriyasai Katasila, Somsak Kosaisuk, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Somkiat Pongpaibul, Naranyu (formerly known as Saranyu) Wongkrajang, Sirichai Mai-ngam, Samran Rodphet, Thoedphum Jaidee and Amorn Amornratananont.

Mrs Maleerat, a former senator for Sakon Nakhon province, said in a message posted on her Facebook page that she was shocked upon learning recently that the Appeals Court ordered the 13 defendants, including herself, to pay a total of 600 million baht compensation for the physical and commercial damage they caused to the AoT.

In 2008, the PAD staged a mass anti-government protest that led to the occupation of Government House by PAD protesters for 193 days...... (read more)....

http://m.bangkokpost.com/topstories/601108

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HomeAsiaStory
I try to think positive but I hate disagreement, says Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut
Published on Jun 23, 2015


By Tan Hui Yee,thailand Correspondent In Bangkok

THERE'S a frisson in the small crowd gathered at the bottom of the staircase in Thailand's Government House. The prime minister is making his way down.

Since staging a coup in May 2014, former army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha has traded his fatigues for Thai silk tops and the khaki civil servants' uniform. Today, he dons a dark suit to meet three Singapore media journalists....... (read more)....

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/s ... ime-minist (http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia/story/i-try-think-positive-i-hate-disagreement-says-thailands-prime-minist)

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Human trafficking cases handed over to prosecutors
The Nation June 24, 2015

With issue of 30 more arrest warrants, the number of suspects has risen to 119
POLICE HAVE ISSUED another 30 arrest warrants for suspects in the trafficking of Rohingya and other migrants, with details and evidence handed over to Office of the Attorney-General yesterday for prosecution and other legal action, which could impact on Thailand's international reputation.

National police chief Pol General Somyot Poompanmuang said initial arrests of suspects involved in trafficking the Rohingya had led to the discovery of mass burial sites in southern Thailand, paving the way for subsequent arrests of ringleaders of these cross-border human trafficking syndicates....... (read more)......

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 62973.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Human-trafficking-cases-handed-over-to-prosecutors-30262973.html)

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How the New US Ambassador Views His Role in Thailand Under Military Rule

By US Congress press release
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
THE NEW US Ambassador designate to Thailand, Glyn Davies, has provided his testimony to Congress. Here's what he told them in his job application:

Senate Foreign Relations Committee
June 23, 2015

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee,

Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I am honored to be President Obama's nominee to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand. I thank the President for the confidence he has placed in me by putting me forward to the Senate for consideration, and thank Secretary of State Kerry for his strong support. I am grateful to all the members of the Committee for this chance to speak to my qualifications and intentions...... (read more).....

http://phuketwan.com/tourism/ambassador ... ule-22709/ (http://phuketwan.com/tourism/ambassador-views-role-thailand-under-military-rule-22709/)

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Prayuth Rebukes Reporters in Gloomy Rant [Transcript]

Junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha at the Government House on 24 June 2015.

BANGKOK тАФ Junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha lashed out at the press today, accusing reporters of being paid to criticize his government, and warning that the country is on the brink of collapse.

Gen. Prayuth, who is known for his long-winded and often irritated asides during speeches and press conferences, delivered the tirade at an air force base following his return from a state visit to Myanmar today.

The following is an excerpt from the encounter:

Prayuth: I try to do everything in the best way I can. I am responsible for all problems at this time, no matter what. I will do my best. Today may not be good, but tomorrow will be good. Or do you want things to be good today but face bankruptcy in the future? You have to choose, I guess. You can spend all the money and get yourself in debt. Eventually you will be bankrupt. It depends on everyone. If you want the country to be peaceful, you have to think things through again.

I am never an enemy of reporters, but these days you still write and attack me everyday.(read more)..... ( I think it would be to the General's advantage to hire a press secretary to explain the government's policies and he stay out of the limelight ..... Up2U)

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... map=%5B%5D (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1435149673&fb_action_ids=10206163472780017&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B1002067023166304%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.recommends%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D)

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Students file charges against police
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION June 25, 2015

'PROTESTS NOT BENEFICIAL', PRAYUT WARNS, |AS YOUNGSTERS SHOW UP TO FIGHT BACK
A GROUP OF students wanted by the authorities for protesting against the junta showed up at Pathumwan Police Station yesterday to deny the charges against them.

Of the 14 present, seven were Dao Din activists, who were there to offer moral support.

Some Bangkok-based university students filed complaints against police for alleged abuse of power after their heavy-handed arrest for protesting against the first-year anniversary of the May 22 coup in Bangkok.

The move came as Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha urged people to stop protesting, saying the country was dying.

"Why do they keep on protesting?" said Prayut, mentioning the name of group incorrectly. Be it Dao Fah or Dao Nam Ngern it won't be beneficial. I think the country cannot move because [people] don't understand what sort of situation we're in nowтАж"

The students arrived at the police station around 1pm, as they had said they would earlier. But instead of reporting to the police and acknowledging the charges against them, they said they were there to file complaints for alleged police assault and abuse of power on May 22. The crowd grew to about 200 to 300 by the evening, with some 50 police officers guarding the premises......, (read more).....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/k9bOi

Political Anniversary in Thailand Puts Focus on Freedoms

Ron Corben

June 24, 2015
BANGKOKтАФ

Pro-democracy activists in Thailand are using the anniversary of the founding of the country's democracy to protest the ruling military junta, which seized power from the elected government in a bloodless coup last year. But Thailand's current rulers are showing little tolerance for criticism.

In the early morning light a small gathering of Thai political activists and poets gathered in central Bangkok, laying flowers at a monument marking events 83 years ago during the toppling of ThailandтАЩs last absolute monarchy.

Reports said police monitoring Wednesday's gathering did not interfere.

The official reaction stood in contrast to recent crackdowns against small gatherings of students, the most recent in May, marking the first anniversary of the militaryтАЩs takeover with promises of political reform and fresh elections. Up to 40 activists were detained for holding peaceful rallies amid signs of increasing intolerance to free speech by the military government.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch criticized the militaryтАЩs dealing with the students, including a group known as Dao Din from the northern Khon Kaen University.,..... (read more)....

http://www.voanews.com/content/politica ... 35174.html (http://www.voanews.com/content/political-anniversary-in-thailand-puts-focus-on-freedomes-under-military-government/2835174.html)

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Sending Messages: The arrest of Thaksin loyalist Kamronwit in Japan
Posted on June 24, 2015 by Editor

News of the arrest of Thaksin loyalist Kamronwit Thoopkrachang in Japan while carrying a handgun and ammunition once again places the Thaksin loyalist in the news.

Kamronwit was former Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (purged from his post after the 2014 coup) who gained fame by openly acknowledging that he owed his post to personally lobbying Thaksin in Hong Kong.

The arrest has generated waves of rumors about Kamronwit being set up in retaliation for the recent show of defiance by current Chief of Police Somyot Poompanmuang.

Chief of Police Somyot PoompanmuangтАЩs stunning ability to simply reject public calls by the junta to carry out their orders to strip Thaksin of his rank, even after the junta abandoned plans to reorganize the police force, demonstrates the limits of PM PrayuthтАЩs absolute power.

SomyotтАЩs further trumpeting of an old Thaksin favoriteтАУlegalization of gamblingтАУin the face of junta opposition further underlines the continuing ability of the police to resist military influence....... (read more).....

http://2bangkok.com/about-kamronwit-thoopkrachang.html

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Graft probe sees 71 senior and local officials shifted
THE NATION June 26, 2015
Article 44 used to move Permanent Secretary of Tourism, Chonsawat Asavahame, and NHSO's Winai
WIELDING THE powerful Article 44 of the interim charter, the government yesterday ordered the transfer and suspension of 71 high-ranking civil servants and members of several local administrative bodies, including the Tourism Ministry permanent secretary to an inactive post and influential Samut Prakan figure Chonsawat Asvahame away from his long-standing stronghold.

Those affected include a number of deputy secretaries-general, public prosecutors and heads of tambon (TAO) and provincial administrative organisations (PAO), mayors, school and hospital directors, and one director-general, said Deputy Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd, reading out the order published yesterday in the Royal Gazette at a press conference..... (read more).....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 63150.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Graft-probe-sees-71-senior-and-local-officials-shi-30263150.html)

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Anti-coup students 'ready for arrest'
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN,
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION June 26, 2015

The NEO Democracy Movement (NDM), a new anti-coup student group made up of Dao Din students and five Bangkok-based students, has said they're ready to be arrested by the authorities and will not seek bail. They say any act taken by the government is illegitimate and should be rejected.
The group marched to Democracy Monument yesterday afternoon to challenge the regime of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who said one day the students will be arrested if they violate the law.

"Let them make the move and the day they break the law will be the day [they get arrested]. Don't try to tempt [me]," said Prayut, who asked others not to cooperate with anti-coup students.

"They should ask themselves if their parents are suffering or not? Having to face legal prosecution and being removed from student status. What will their future be?"

The new 30-strong group is a merger of seven Dao Din students from Khon Kaen University and pro-democracy students from various universities in Bangkok. It includes those arrested on May 22 for marking the first anniversary of the coup..... (read more)....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/TltOy

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U. S. State Dept. Report for Thailand on Democracy and Human Rights
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYS

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. The king serves as head of state and has traditionally exerted strong influence. On May 22, in a bloodless coup, military and police leaders, taking the name of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and led by General Prayut Chan-Ocha, overthrew the interim government led by the Puea Thai political party. Puea Thai, led by Yingluck Shinawatra, had governed since 2011 following National Assembly lower house elections that were generally viewed as free and fair. The military-led NCPO maintained effective control over the security forces.

The coup leaders repealed the constitution (except for provisions related to the monarchy), suspended parliament, continued martial law imposed two days earlier on May 20, and issued numerous decrees severely limiting civil liberties, including restrictions on freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press. The NCPO summoned and detained, without charge, more than 900 political leaders, academics, journalists, and others, holding many for up to seven days. The NCPO promulgated an interim constitution on July 22 and appointed individuals to a National Legislative Assembly on July 31, the members of which unanimously selected coup leader and head of the army, General Prayut, as prime minister on August 21.

In addition to limitations on human rights occasioned by the coup and implemented by the NCPO, the most persistent human rights problems consisted of abuses by government security forces and local defense volunteers in the context of the continuing Malay-Muslim insurgency in the three southernmost provinces, and occasional excessive use of force by security forces, including police killing, torturing, and otherwise abusing criminal suspects, detainees, and prisoners. After the May 22 coup, citizens no longer had the ability to change the government through the right to vote in free and fair elections.

Other human rights problems included arbitrary arrests and detention; poor, overcrowded, and unsanitary prison and detention facilities; insufficient protection for vulnerable populations, including refugees; violence and discrimination against women; sex tourism; sexual exploitation of children; trafficking in persons; discrimination against persons with disabilities, minorities, hill tribe members, and foreign migrant workers; child labor; and some limitations on worker rights.

Authorities occasionally dismissed, arrested, prosecuted, and convicted security force members who committed abuses. Official impunity, however, continued to be a serious problem, especially in provinces where the 2005 Emergency Decree and the 2008 Internal Security Act (ISA) remained in effect. The militaryтАЩs invocation of martial law nationwide on May 20 magnified this problem. Article 48 of the NCPO-imposed interim constitution grants immunity to coup leaders and their subordinates for any pre- or postcoup actions ordered by the NCPO, regardless of the legality of the action.

Insurgents in the southernmost provinces continued to commit human rights abuses, including attacks on civilian targets...... (read more).....

http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/hu ... 80#wrapper (http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2014&dlid=236480#wrapper)

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Student Activists Arrested for Anti-Coup March in Bangkok
June 26, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Police have arrested the fourteen activists who defied the junta's ban on protests and led a pro-democracy demonstration in Bangkok yesterday.

The activists, most of whom are university students in their early 20s, were arrested this evening at Suan Ngern Meema hostel in Bangkok's Charoen Nakhon district, where they had been staying for the past two days.

Police and army officers entered the hostel, which is owned by the prominent historian Sulak Sivaraksa, at around 5:30pm with arrest warrants approved by a martial court. The activists were taken in police vans to Phra Ratchawang Police Station.

According to the arrest warrant, the group, known collectively as the Neo-Democracy Movement, violated the military junta's Order 3/2015, which bans public gatherings "for political purposes" of more than five people.

The activists are also accused of violating Section 116 of the Criminal Codes, which outlaws causing "unrest and disaffection among the people in a manner likely to cause disturbances in the country."

They are now facing trial in martial court, where military officers serve as judges and appeals are not permitted...... (read more)...... .

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1435318843 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1435318843)

[Up2U]

Revisiting US Policy toward Post-Coup Thailand

Posted on June 26, 2015 By Ernest Z. Bower and Murray Hiebert Headline, Opinion, Thailand

This isnтАЩt going to be easy

At a time when US relations with most countries in Southeast Asia are warming, the United StatesтАЩ ties with its oldest partner in the region are a critical outlier. Thailand-US relations have been in a deep freeze for the past 13 months since Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha ousted an elected civilian government following six months of disruptive political protests and installed a military junta.

Thailand is going through a historic political transition that has existential stakes for Thais. Meanwhile, much of the rest of Southeast Asia is seeing a nuanced shift away from centrally controlled political models as its fast-expanding and relatively young middle class, empowered by strong economic growth and technological innovations, has begun to assert itself and press governments for more transparency, access to decision-making, and stronger institutions....... (read more)......

http://www.asiasentinel.com/opinion/rev ... -thailand/ (http://www.asiasentinel.com/opinion/revisiting-us-policy-toward-post-coup-thailand/)

[Up2U]

A preposterous - AND DANGEROUS - notion
June 26, 2015
THE DAMAGE WOULD BE IMMENSE IF AN ARMY LIEUTENANT GENERAL IS ALLOWED TO PUT THAI AND FOREIGN REPORTERS THROUGH "RE-EDUCATION"

A plan by a senior Army general to round up 200 Thai and foreign journalists for a "re-education" session to encourage "more constructive, less offensive" questions strikes us as a crazy idea straight out of the TV cartoon show "Ren and Stimpy". Not exactly children's entertainment, the show features a dumb fat cat and a violently psychotic Chihuahua whose sarcastic catchphrase is "happy, happy, joy, joy".

Lt-General Suchart Pongput, commander of the Army Signals Department, has decided that the reporters ask Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha too many testing questions that undermine the junta's stated ambition of "restoring happiness to the Thai people"...... (read more).....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion ... 63162.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/A-preposterous--AND-DANGEROUS--notion-30263162.html)

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France grants refugee status to Thai political exiles
Submitted by editor2 on Sat, 27/06/2015

France granted refugee status to Thai political refugees and lese majeste suspects who fled Thailand after the 2014 coup dтАЩ├йtat.

According to BBC Thai Service, the French government on 12 June granted a refugee status to Saran Chuichai, aka, Aum Neko, a renowned Thai transgender student activist, who fled to France shortly after the coup dтАЩ├йtat on 22 June 2014.

Sarun is also one of at least 31 people accused of defaming the monarchy who fled the country to Europe, North America, New Zealand, and other Southeast Asian nations after the 2014 coup....... (read more).....

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5213

[Up2U]

Student Activists Face 7 Years in Prison for Pro-Democracy Demonstration
June 27, 2015

Police guard a martial court in Bangkok where dozens of people gathered to support 14 pro-democracy activists who were denied bail on 26 June 2015.

BANGKOK тАФ Fourteen young pro-democracy activists charged with sedition have been imprisoned while they await trial for their recent demonstration against the military junta in Bangkok.

The thirteen men and one woman are being held at Bangkok Remand Prison and Bangkok Central Women Prison, respectively. Authorities can detain them for up to 12 days, which can be extended seven times, before they are formally tried in court.

The fourteen, eleven of whom are university students, have been charged with violating the juntaтАЩs ban on political gatherings, and inciting "unrest and disaffection among the people in a manner likely to cause disturbances in the country.тАЭ

Poonsuk Poonsukcharoen, the groupтАЩs legal representative, said she believes the charges - which carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison - were filed over the peaceful pro-democracy demonstration the group held at Ratchadamnoen Avenue on 25 June.

They are now facing trial in martial court, where military officers serve as judges and appeals are not permitted..... (read more)....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1435391868&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Soldiers Order University to Cancel Forum on New Charter, Students Say
June 27, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Soldiers reportedly ordered a university in Bangkok to cancel a panel discussion on the new constitution, which will be put to national referendum next January.

The forum was organized by a student activist group at Ramkhamhaeng University, and scheduled to take place today at 1 pm.

However, Pongnarin Nonthakam, a representative from the Network of Student Activists for Society, arrived at the venue and announced that the university had asked his group to cancel the forum, citing orders from soldiers.
Pongnarin said his group initially planned to go ahead with the discussion, which was going to include a member of the juntaтАЩs military government as a panelist, but decided to cancel it because of the "pressure" from authorities..... (read more)...

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1435398143&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Thai army chief says the arrest of 14 embattled student activists тАШnecessary
Submitted by editor2 on Sat, 27/06/2015

The Thai army commander says that the arrest of 14 embattled anti-junta student activists was unavoidable to prevent further conflicts and warned that people involved with the student activists will face tough measures.

According to the Thai News Agency, Gen Udomdech Sitabutr, Commander of the Thai Army and Deputy Defence Minister, said on Saturday that the arrest of 14 anti-junta student activists was necessary to prevent further conflicts in the nation.

He warned that security officers now know who is behind the student movements and that people who are involved in supporting the student activists will face harsh measures from the authorities...... (read more)...

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5214

[Up2U]

Media cannot be complicit in spin

28 Jun 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS

Junta leader Prayut Chan-o-chaтАЩs relationship with the media, never warm even in his days as army chief, seemed to reach new lows last week. In successive press conferences, which some outlets openly referred to as rants, he showed anger and contempt for the professionals who cover national politics. The relationship is unlikely to improve this week when the military regime calls in 200 journalists in an attempt to teach them how to ask questions in an appropriate manner, as though it is somehow their job to help Gen Prayut control himself.

Exactly what Gen Prayut thinks the mediaтАЩs role should be is a little difficult to ascertain from his statements, but he has been consistently intolerant of criticism.

On Wednesday, he started by saying he was not the mediaтАЩs enemy but bemoaned the fact that тАЬyou still write and attack me every dayтАЭ...... (read more)......

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... map=%5B%5D (http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/605932/media-cannot-be-complicit-in-spin?fb_action_ids=10206192851674471&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B978567255527661%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.likes%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D)

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No Redshirt Protests Expected During Prayuth's Visit to Chiang Mai
June 29, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ A Redshirt leader in northern Thailand says there will be no protests during junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ochaтАЩs visit to Chiang Mai - a major stronghold of the largely anti-coup Redshirt movement.

"It is not yet the time for dissent or opposition," said Pichit Tamoon, who leads the RedshirtsтАЩ Chiang Mai chapter. "We are still giving the government a chance to work, solve problems, and fix the economy. But we do ask them to stick to the road map, and organize a democratic election that will return power to the people."

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who toppled a Redshirt-backed government thirteen months ago, is scheduled to arrive in Chiang Mai today for a two-day visit. Over 2,000 police officers have been mobilized to maintain security during his trip, according to the commander of the Fifth Region Police..... (read more)......

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1435563958&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Three Arrested in Chiang Mai After Pro-Democracy Rally Outside US Consulate
June 29, 2015

CHIANG MAI тАУ Three people have reportedly been arrested for their suspected connection to a brief pro-democracy demonstration in front of the United States Consulate in northern Thailand today.

Around ten masked activists gathered in front of the US Consulate in Chiang Mai province this afternoon and held signs pledging their support for human rights, democracy, and non-violence...... (read more)....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1435584252&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Police condemned for hasty, unlawful interrogation, collection of evidence, intimidation of lawyers
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 29/06/2015

Human rights lawyers condemned the Thai police for hasty arrest of the 14 embattled student activists and the unlawful collection of the activistsтАЩ mobile phones.

Yaowalak Anupan, the head of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), said at a press conference on Sunday, 28 June, at Thammasat University, that the arrest on Friday was hasty and unprofessional.

The 14 activists, mostly students, were arrested for political gatherings on 22 May, the first anniversary of the 2014 coup dтАЩ├йtat in Bangkok and the northeastern province of Khon Kaen.

After the arrest, the investigative officers attempted to interrogate the activists without their lawyersтАЩ presence. Therefore, activists refused to proceed with the investigation and declared that they would only be represented by lawyers, said Kisadang Nutjarat, a lawyer from the TLHR.

Kisadang pointed out that the activists arrested have the right to their preferred lawyers to prevent the authorities from taking advantage of them..... (read more)...

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5222

[Up2U]

280 university lecturers sign statement to demand release of students
The Nation June 30, 2015
Some 280 university lecturers nationwide have signed a statement to call on the government to immediately release 14 student activists arrested for rallying to demand democracy.
Ten academics, who represent the network of the lecturers, turned up in front of the Bangkok Remand Prison at noon to read the first statement of the "Network of Lecturers who have concerns for the detained students".

The statement expressed the lecturers' support for the students and demanded the authorities to release them immediately without any conditions..... (read more)....

1http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/280-university-lecturers-sign-statement-to-demand--30263426.html

[Up2U]

Civil Discourse and Civil Society: The dysfunctional culture of Thai academia

It is a strange irony that in Thailand a small group of people can take over the country at gun point, yet no one can turn round and tell them to f*ck off without somehow occupying the moral low ground.

Many times, after making тАШstrongтАЩ statements about the junta, or about social and political issues in general, I have been told by Thai colleagues, typically academics, that it is inappropriate for me, as an `educatorтАЩ, to use harsh language to express my opinions. DoesnтАЩt it set a bad example to my students? ShouldnтАЩt I, as an educator, `educateтАЩ people instead of always criticizing? 1

As an academic, speaking to other academics, I considered this a curious response тАУ at first. In a single instance, encountering such knee jerk conservatism, not to mention fundamental lack of understanding of an academicтАЩs raison dтАЩetre, could be easily dismissed. Only gradually, but with an increasing sense of disbelief and horror, did I begin to realize that such attitudes, far from being rare in a Thai university environment, are almost uniformly held by those responsible for `educatingтАЩ the nationтАЩs youth.

But, before going any further, let me introduce myself. I am a physical scientist, working as a lecturer and researcher at a Thai university. I am not a political scientist, a specialist in educational theory, in Southeast Asian studies, Thai studies, or any other branch of the social sciences. In my daily working life I am concerned more with waves and particles, fields and forces, and the paradoxes of simultaneously dead-and-alive cats which plague modern quantum theory, than with the complex and infuriatingly nuanced interactions of human society. Yet I am a part of that society. I was born with both a heart and a brain. Through a combination of innate capacity and training I acquired the ability, and hence the responsibility, to think critically and to judge. Such, in my world, are the aims of education. I moved to Thailand about 18 months ago, and my world changed drastically.

Through my work, I was shocked to encounter foreign academics, familiar with the Thai university system, that all but refused to refer to Thai academics as qualified, preferring instead the term `credentialedтАЩ. In short, I was shocked to find that the possession of bachelorтАЩs, masterтАЩs or even Ph.D. certificates from Thai institutions are not seen as guarantees of basic competence at an international level, comparable with their nominal equivalents elsewhere in the world (including other developing countries). This is true to a lesser degree in the physical vis-├а-vis the social sciences but is still a widespread problem...... (read more)......

http://kyotoreview.org/yav/dysfunctional-thai-academia/

[Up2U]

Govt Officials Permit Anti-Activist Protest in Loei Province
June 30, 2015

LOEI тАФ Dozens of people gathered in northeastern Thailand this morning for an unexpected rally denouncing the student activists who were arrested in Bangkok last Friday for "inciting unrest" with a peaceful pro-democracy demonstration.

Officials allowed today's rally outside of Loei City Hall to go forward, highlighting the uneven application of the junta's ban on political gatherings, which has been consistently invoked to snuff out anti-coup protests but rarely used to silence supporters of the military government.

The demonstration was led by a local administrator, Sombat Tonkam, who said the crowd of nearly 100 protesters hailed from six villages in Khao Luang subdistrict..... (read more).....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1435666812&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

The law is the law: PM
ANAPAT DEEECHUAY,
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION July 1, 2015

PRAYUT STANDS FIRM ON JAILING OF STUDENTS IN WAKE OF CRITICISM FROM EU, UN
PRIME Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha stood firm in the face of growing condemnation from the European Union (EU) delegation in Bangkok and the regional United Nations (UN) rights body of the detention of 14 anti-coup students.

"The law is the lawтАж" Prayut said, referring to the students who were arrested on Friday for allegedly committing sedition and disobeying the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)'s ban on political gatherings of five or more people.

"If there is a law and it's applied against one but not applied against others, will more people come out [to the street to protests]?" Prayut asked..... (read more)....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/7Lr9s

[scottish-guy]

When one considers there's daily corruption at all levels - from simple police shake-downs to the number of overseas criminals and (worse) fugitives from international justice who swan around Pattaya and elsewhere, with a blind eye turned by the authorities in return for tea money..... a statement such as "the law is the law" seems just a little out of place.

All "allegedly", of course.

I particularly liked France's action granting political asylum to a number of Thai exiles

[Up2U]

BURNING ISSUE
It's an insecure regime that uses twisted logic to cage students
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
July 1, 2015
ANY REGIME that arrests students who gather peacefully to call for liberty and democracy must be terribly insecure.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) put 14 university students, representing the Neo Democracy Movement (NDM), behind the bars on Friday. These youngsters could each face up to seven years in prison for allegedly violating the NCPO's ban on gatherings of five or more people as well as apparently committing sedition.

Three days after the students were arrested, dozens of people gathered to show their support for Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is also NCPO chief, offering him flowers and urging him to stay in power for another three years.

Clearly, the NCPO ban on gatherings does not apply to those who openly show their satisfaction with military rule.

Now the fight is not just against military dictatorship, but also against hypocrisy and twisted logic.

Consider the following:..... (read more).....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/51Uy0

[Up2U]

Thai Junta Leader 'Uncomfortable' With Jailing of Student Activists
July 1, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Thailand's military leader said he is personally troubled by the arrests and imprisonment of fourteen pro-democracy activists, but insisted that the investigation must go on.

"I am looking for a measure to open up dialogue and put an end to this matter," Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha said this morning, five days after the 14 activists were arrested in Bangkok for a peaceful demonstration against his military government. "I have to admit that I feel uncomfortable at the use of the laws against these students."

"But at the same time," he continued, "we have to look at it from another angle, we have to look at the behavior and expression of these people. Are these actions of innocent children? Are politicians behind them? We have to prove it. We are investigating it right now."..... (read more).....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1435740356&section=11)

[Up2U]

PM brands free care as 'too costly'

2 Jul 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: PATSARA JIKKHAM

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has branded the universal healthcare scheme a "costly populist" policy which helped deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra win the 2001 election.

The health scheme benefits about 47 million people - two-thirds of the population.

Commenting on the conflict between the National Health Security Office (NHSO) and the Public Health Ministry, Gen Prayut said Wednesday that Thailand is not financially ready for such a multi-billion-baht health insurance project...... (read more)....

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/60 ... too-costly (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/609968/pm-brands-free-care-as-too-costly)

[Up2U]

Thai public TV might face fine over program on 14 embattled anti-junta activists
Submitted by editor2 on Wed, 01/07/2015

The Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS), a public media outlet supported by the state, might face 50,000 Baht fine from the Thai authorities for broadcasting a program about the backgrounds of the 14 embattled anti-junta student activist.

According the Nation Breaking News, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission of Thailand (NBCT) summoned the executive board members of the Thai PBS over a TV news program called тАЬBefore becoming a New Democracy Group: Looking Back to the Movements of the 14 Student from Dao Din and in front of BangkokтАЩs Art and Culture CenterтАЭ, which was broadcasted on June 28, for a discussion.

The TV program presented the backgrounds of the 14 embattled anti-junta activists most of whom are students, such as the Dao Din Group from the northeastern Khon Kaen Province, who has long been engaged in activities against a gold mine in Loei Province together with the locals.

The program pointed out that the 14 anti-junta activists were also engaged in activities against the Amnesty Bill, a bill aimed to give impunity to people involved in the 2010 political violence and Thaksin Shinnawatra a controversial ex-Prime Minister, proposed under the last elected government under Yingluck Shinawatra, the former PM before the coup dтАЩ├йtat...... (read more)....

http://linkis.com/www.prachatai.com/en/2FBqa

[Up2U]

Ease tensions, experts urge
Pravit Rojanaphruk,
Piyaporn Wongruang,
Kasamakorn Chanwanpen
The Nation July 2, 2015

NCPO, anti-coup students told to engage in dialogue before matters get out of hand
The escalation of political confrontation between the military junta and the 14 detained anti-coup students and their supporters should be quickly toned down before it is too late, concerned scholars said yesterday.

The call came as Mahidol University peace expert Gothom Arya volunteered to talk to the government in order to avoid the situation getting out of control.

"There's a need to have someone to talk to both sides. I can go and talk to the military," Gothom said yesterday.

Gothom suggested that his colleague Ekaphan Pinthawanij, also a peace and human-rights expert at Mahidol, could talk to the detained students, as many of them know and trust him..... (read more)....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 63575.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Ease-tensions-experts-urge-30263575.html)

[Up2U]

Sulak issues warning
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION July 3, 2015

THE police have launched preliminary investigations into a possible lese majeste offence allegedly committed by social critic Sulak Sivaraka.
Sulak, meanwhile, said yesterday that arresting him unfairly would signal the downfall of this government, adding that this move was likely politically motivated. "I have praised [Prime Minister] Prayut [Chan-o-cha] for not having the National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO] summon me earlier. I believe he is patient," Sulak said.

"I understand that hawkish men in his contingent are now telling him to deal with me, much in the manner of slaughtering a chicken to set an example to the monkeys, by using the lese majeste law against me." He was referring to the Thai idiom of punishing someone else to instil fear in others..... (read more)....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/JPm5g

[Up2U]

Thai PBS stands firm on TV programme about anti-junta activists
Submitted by editor2 on Thu, 02/07/2015

After being summoned by the Thai broadcasting authorities, Thai PBS, a public media company supported by the state, clarified that it was only doing its duty in broadcasting a TV programme about the 14 embattled anti-junta activists.

According to Thai PBS News, Wanchai Tantiwitthayaphithak, Deputy Director of the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS), on Thursday, 2 July 2015, said that the recent Thai PBS TV programme about the 14 anti-junta activists is not a violation of the 2007 Act to Assign Radio Frequencies and Regulate Broadcasting and Telecommunication Services.

He mentioned that the Thai PBS was only doing its duty as a media outlet in the public interest.

тАЬAs a public media outlet, Thai PBS performs its role strictly in accordance with Article 4 of the Thai PBS Act (governing the Thai PBS code of conduct and operations) to promote media freedom and foster a democratic society in which people can have equal access to information,тАЭ said Wanchai.

On Monday, 29 June 2015, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission of Thailand (NBCT) summoned for discussion the executive board members of Thai PBS over a TV news programme called тАЬthe Analysis of the Movement of the Student Activists under the Governance of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)тАЭ, a TV programme on the 14 anti-junta student activists, which was broadcast on June 28.,..... (read more).....

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5247

[Up2U]

Amnesty International pressures Thai govt to release 14 students
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation July 3, 2015

London-based rights group Amnesty international (AI) launched an urgent operation asking its members from around the world to ask for the release of 14 anti-coup students in Bangkok.
Members were asked to write letters in English or any language member uses to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha demanding immediate and unconditional release of the 14 who are members of New Democracy Movement (NDM). AI said in a statement issued on Thursday that the organization considers the 14 as prisoners of conscience and call for the end of the restriction on the right of freedom of assembly in Thailand. The campaign will run until August 11.

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/nWcXQ

[Up2U]

Hundreds urge students' release

3 Jul 2015
WRITER: ONLINE

Hundreds of people on Friday evening covered a wall in central Bangkok with Post-it notes denouncing the military government and demanding the release of 14 jailed student activists.

The "Post Freedom" activity was staged by the anti-coup Resistant Citizen and New Democracy groups on the BTS Skywalk near the National Stadium station.

Participants wrote messages on colourful Post-it notes for their friends in jail and stuck them on the "Wall of Democracy" erected on the Skywalk near the Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre. Around half of the space on the skywalk was barricaded by police..... (read more)....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... s-flourish (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/612284/anti-junta-stickers-flourish)

[Up2U]

The myth of ThailandтАЩs bureaucratic state
By
Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang
тАУ 30 June 2015Posted in: Thailand


ThailandтАЩs latest coup was meant to replace greedy, inept politicians with benevolent bureaucrats better able to lead the country. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It is no secret that Thailand has never been short of bad policies.

The administration has often produced policies devastating to peopleтАЩs livelihoods and natural resources. One of the most popular explanations among supporters of the latest coup is the narrative of greedy and incompetent politicians. As uneducated local mafias, politicians are short-sighted because they are too concerned with the next election. That same concern forces politicians to support the wishes of their financial patrons, mostly business corporations, over those of the public.

The effect of this explanation is two-fold. First, it justifies anti-democratic sentiment because it claims that elections are the source of ThailandтАЩs administrative failures. Second, it gives rise to the bureaucratic state because this explanation blames all mistakes on politicians while giving legitimacy to bureaucrats. Thai bureaucrats then portray themselves as benevolent experts who have to succumb to the ill-wishes of their elected superiors. If the assumption that the cause of ThailandтАЩs evil is simply politicians is correct, then the military government of General Prayuth Chan-ocha should have produced numerous smart policies that will help Thailand leap forward..... (read more)....

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... tic-state/ (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/06/30/the-myth-of-thailands-bureaucratic-state/)

[Up2U]

Court tipped to free protester students

Panadda confident they had no hidden agenda

6 Jul 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: POST REPORTERS


Speculation is mounting the military court will release the 14 arrested students of the New Democracy Movement (NDM) when it decides their fate tomorrow.

The speculation started after positive comments from Prime Minister's Office Minister ML Panadda Diskul on Saturday regarding their arrest.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha also said he has made a suggestion to the "judicial side" on how to handle the issue.

The students were arrested on June 26 following their rally against the military regime....... (read more).....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... r-students (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/613340/court-tipped-to-free-protester-students)

[Up2U]

Junta says Int'l orgs donтАЩt understand the 14 activists' arrests in Thai political context
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 06/07/2015

International organizations calling for the release of the 14 embattled anti-junta activists do not understand the arrests in the Thai political context, said a junta spokesman.

Maj Gen Weerachon Sukontapatipak, spokesman for the juntaтАЩs National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) stated that the government understands the role of international organizations and do not have a problem with the studentsтАЩ way of thinking.

However, the junta is concerned about certain groups who hope to take advantage of the student activistsтАЩ protests by turning it into a situation similar to the 14 October 1973 Student Uprising, stated Weerachon. Therefore, international organizations pressuring for the activistsтАЩ release must understand the Thai political context and goals of various interest groups first, stated the junta spokesman..... (read more).....

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5263

[Up2U]

Thai northerners gather to support the 14 embattled anti-junta activists
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 06/07/2015

People gathered in the northern province of Chiang Mai, Thailand, to show moral support to the 14 embattled anti-junta activists under tight monitoring of the police and military officers.

On Sunday, 5 July 2015, a crowd gathered in front of Chiang Mai University to hold an event called тАШPost Its for FreedomтАЩ to urge for an immediate release for the 14 embattled anti-junta activists who have been detained since last week, 26 June 2015.

The event was organised under the heavy presence of police and military officers in and out of uniforms, who tightly monitored the event.

The event was similar to the тАШPost Its for FreedomтАЩ in Bangkok on 3 July, where the event participants wrote messages on post its to support the 14 activists, read poetries, and performed live music..... (read more).....

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5266

[Up2U]

The demise of the Red Shirts?
July 5, 2015 uglytruththailand
Giles Ji Ungpakorn

The arrest and imprisonment of 14 pro-democracy student activists has exposed the state of the тАЬdemocracy movementтАЭ in Thailand.

In a previous post on this site I explained that the student activists had тАЬthrown down a challengeтАЭ to all of us. That challenge was whether or not people were prepared to rebuild a mass movement to overthrow the dictatorship. Make no mistake, the Prayut dictatorship is planning to cast its ugly shadow on Thai politics well beyond the day that the murderous military gang formally step down from office and allow so-called elections under their deformed rules.

The junta are now jack-booting their way into peoplesтАЩ houses or offices and threatening anyone associated or related to the students. They are telling other activists to stop criticising the junta on social media and they are putting pressure on the media to stop reporting anti-junta activities.

...... .(read more and if you are in Thailand you will need a vpn or dns proxy server)....

https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com ... ed-shirts/ (https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com/2015/07/05/the-demise-of-the-red-shirts/)

[Up2U]

Military Court Rules to Release 14 Anti-Junta Activists from Prison Tonight
July7, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Bangkok's military court has ordered to release fourteen anti-junta activists from prison while they await trial on sedition charges for leading a peaceful pro-democracy rally last month.

The fourteen activists - eleven of whom are university students - were ordered to spend 12 days in prison by the court after they were arrested on 26 June for wrapping black banners around Bangkok's Democracy Monument.

They were charged with inciting unrest, which carries up to seven years in prison, and violating the juntaтАЩs ban on public gatherings, which has been in place since the May 2014 coup that overthrew a democratic government...... (read more).....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1436249265&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Gen Tawatchai : Father says son was brainwashed
in Politics | July 7, 2015

A member of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) says the father of one of the 14 detained student activists has revealed that his son was brainwashed by a foreign organisation before having adopted anti government attitude.

Gen Tawatchai Samutsakon, former commander of the Second Army Region, and now a NLA member, said he met and talked to the father of a student activist who is a Surin resident yesterday.

The father told him that his son was taken out by a foreign organisation for two nights in a brainwashing session a month ago.

From that day his son has changed and turned to have adopted anti government attitude, he said.

The father also said he wanted bail for his son, he said.

He said he didnтАЩt want to elaborate but confirmed such movement from foreign organisation happened frequently in Surin province, starting from Khon Kaen to other provinces in the Northeast.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/gen-ta ... rainwashed (http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/gen-tawatchai-father-says-son-was-brainwashed)

[Up2U]

Anti-coup protests tipped to continue
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN,
WASSAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION July 8, 2015 1

ACADEMIC WARNS AS STUDENTS' RELEASE ORDERED
THE 14 anti-coup student activists are due to be freed this morning (Wed)after the first round of pre-trial detention ended yesterday and the Military Court rejected a police request to hold them for further 12 days.

However, police will continue to investigate the students, who face charges of sedition and violating a National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) ban on political gatherings of five or more people.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha called the court's move an act of mercy..... (read more)....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 63991.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Anti-coup-protests-tipped-to-continue-30263991.html)

[Up2U]

THE NATION July 8, 2015
FACED WITH accusations that he violated the interim constitution, social activist Baramee Chairat stood by his innocence and said he would continue to fight for freedom and democracy.
In trouble for sheltering and observing anti-coup students

PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

THE NATION

FACED WITH accusations that he violated the interim constitution, social activist Baramee Chairat stood by his innocence and said he would continue to fight for freedom and democracy.

Baramee, a key member of the Assembly of the Poor, was with the 14 anti-coup students who were arrested last month. He was in charge of the Suan Ngern Mee Ma premises on Charoen Nakhon Road, where the students were given shelter for two nights before they were arrested. He also accompanied them when they staged a protest against the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

"I have been wrongly accused. I feel restricted [under the junta] and would like to ask how long will all of you put up with this?" Baramee said. "I think every citizen has the right and freedom to express themselves in order to protect his or her rights and liberty."

Baramee said he did not take part in the protest, but had merely been observing the students from a 10-metre distance at Democracy Monument..... (read more)....

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/Lx4Xg

[Up2U]

Junta Chairman Lectures Youth on Thai-style Monarchy & Democracy [Transcript]
July 8, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Speaking to a group of young Thais who were raised abroad, junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha stressed the importance of revering the Thai king, who he described as a "deity" that never interferes in politics.

Gen. Prayuth was speaking to 37 children and teenagers who were raised in America and invited by the government to visit Thailand and learn about its culture.

In the speech, the general explained that the Thai monarchy is "unique" and needs the special protection of the KingdomтАЩs lese majeste law, Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Codes, which punishes criticism of the royal family with up to 15 years in prison.

Gen. Prayuth, who came to power by staging a coup d'etat against an elected government on 22 May 2014, also told his young audience that he would return democracy to Thailand after a new constitution is approved in a referendum, which is set to take place in January of next year..... (read more)...

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1436349932&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Junta Asks Overseas Thais to Explain Coup to Foreigners
July 8, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ The secretary-general of Thailand's ruling military junta has urged Thais living abroad to explain the reasons behind the May 2014 coup d'etat to foreigners.

"I want all of you who live abroad to explain the situation in our country to foreigners, so that they can understand what happened," said Gen. Chatchalerm Chalermsuk. "That the military does not want to hold on to power, and how we have been trying to restore peace in the country and move the nation forward, and enforce the laws."

Gen. Chatchalerm made the remark in an address to representatives of a Boston-based Thai charity who met with him at Government House in Bangkok to donate one million baht to soldiers stationed in southern Thailand to combat a separatist insurgency...... (read more).....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1436266628 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1436266628)

[Up2U]

From the Diplomat..... It's Time for the US and the EU to Get Tough on Prayuth's Thailand

Prayuth Chan-o-chaтАЩs approach to Southeast AsiaтАЩs migrant crisis cannot be allowed to continue.
By Rob Edens
July 07, 2015

Since 1932, there have been 18 military coups that have overthrown the ruling Thai governments. In 2014, Thailand experienced its 19th led by General Prayuth Chan-o-cha. PrayuthтАЩs latest junta with its accompanied National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) toppled Yingluck Shinawatra and her extended clan on grounds of corruption, disrespecting the monarchy, and not uniting or bringing prosperity to the Thai people. But this military clampdown on dissenting political figures is rather a seizure of absolute power lending itself to a military dictatorship. What was supposed to be a caretaker cabinet to accelerate a democratic transition, purging the ill affected from governing over the Thai people, the new moral тАЬsoldier with a democratic heartтАЭ has thwarted freedoms, civil liberties, and any opposition through fear and silence..... (read more)....

http://thediplomat.com/2015/07/its-time ... -thailand/ (http://thediplomat.com/2015/07/its-time-for-the-us-and-the-eu-to-get-tough-on-prayuths-thailand/)

[Up2U]

Junta to Invite Yingluck, Abhisit for TV Discussion
July 9, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Thailand's ruling military junta is planning to invite prominent politicians from the country's rival factions to discuss the government's reform plans on national television.

Gen. Udomdet Sitabutr, a junta member and army chief, said the TV show will be launched by the junta-appointed Center for Reconciliation and Reform (CRR), and allow politicians to air their views on the military government's reform efforts since the May 2014 coup.

According to Gen. Udomdet, the invitees will include former Prime Ministers Yingluck Shinawatra and Abhisit Vejjajiva, who are top leaders of ThailandтАЩs two chief political camps тАУ known colloquially as the Redshirts and the Yellowshirts тАУ that have been locked in a protracted power struggle for the past decade..... (read more).....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1436425033&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Police Investigating Rumor that Prayuth Transferred 10 Billion Baht to Singapore Bank
July 9, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Thai police say they are monitoring the people who started a rumor on social media alleging that junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha had transferred 10 billion baht to his personal bank account in Singapore.

Speaking at a press conference today, Thai police commander Pol.Gen. Somyot Pumpanmuang said those who started the allegation, which Gen. Prayuth has denied, will be charged with violating the Computer Crime Act.

According to Pol.Gen. Somyot, police have already identified at least one person who helped spread the rumor, but declined to say whether the person has been detained..... (read more).....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1436431746&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Thai Consulate attacked.... PM defends Uighur expulsion to China

10 Jul 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: POST REPORTERS


The deportation of some 100 Uighur migrants to China followed proper procedures, insists Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, despite an overnight protest at the Thai honorary consulate in Istanbul, where Turks are angry about the way the Uighur minority are being treated.

The government's expulsion of the group to China, after an earlier batch was sent to Turkey, has also drawn criticism by the UN and rights groups....... (read more)...

http://bangkokpost.com/news/general/618 ... n-to-china (http://bangkokpost.com/news/general/618860/pm-defends-uighur-expulsion-to-china) Search


Thailand condemned for repatriation of 109 Uighurs to China
Associated Press
By THANYARAT DOKSONE



BANGKOK (AP) тАФ Thailand faced a blizzard of international criticism Thursday, and its consulate in Istanbul was ransacked, after it deported 109 ethnic Uighur refugees to China despite fears that they would face persecution there.

The U.N. refugee agency called Thailand's action "a flagrant violation of international law." The United States also condemned the deportations, and voiced deep concern about protection of asylum-seekers in Thailand. Amnesty International said that the Muslim Uighurs could face detention or torture in China.

Protesters in Turkey, which has cultural ties to the Uighurs and accepted an earlier group of Uighur refugees from Thailand, ransacked the Thai Consulate in Istanbul overnight. Police in the capital, Ankara, used pepper spray to push back Uighur protesters who tried to break through a barricade outside the Chinese Embassy........ (read more).....

http://news.yahoo.com/thailand-sends-10 ... 52174.html (http://news.yahoo.com/thailand-sends-100-ethnic-uighurs-back-china-060552174.html)

[Up2U]

Govt adds fuel to fire as resentment builds

What's all the fuss about the arrest of 14 so-called students who broke the law? Many in social media have expressed their bewilderment.

Published: 10/07/2015
Writer: Wasant Techawongtham

That reminds me of a saying: "Where there's smoke, there's fire." The students are the smoke while the fire has been burning or smouldering in many places.

And what have the authorities done to douse the fire? They throw in more fuel.

Some high-ranking officials have complained to the press that the students allowed themselves to be a tool of some third party which they refused to name.

Some others almost foamed at the mouth accusing the young activists of obstructing the government which has been trying to bring stability and peace to a faltering country. Fortunately, they stopped short of calling the youngsters traitors or terrorists.

Many junta supporters in social media resorted to familiar discrediting tactics. ''Where were these *&^%$ students when the previous government ran the country to the ground?'' they asked...... (read more).....

http://m.bangkokpost.com/opinion/618920

[Up2U]

PDRC acquitted of disrupting Feb 2 election

10 Jul 2015 at 18:37
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS

The Criminal Court has dismissed a case in which a number of People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protesters were accused of obstructing the Feb 2, 2014 election.

Public prosecutors filed the charge against the PDRC members who had surrounded Bangkok's Din Daeng district office on the election date. They successfully prevented officials from bringing ballots to the district's 175 election units.

The result was all units were closed and no voters in the district could exercise their right on that day.

The court ruled on Friday the PDRC demonstration was legitimate based on a judgement by the Constitutional Court.

The protest at the district office was also peaceful and unarmed. Besides, there was no proof all the suspects padlocked the gate of the office as accused by the prosecutors, the court said...... (read more)......

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/61 ... 2-election (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/619508/pdrc-acquitted-of-disrupting-feb-2-election)

[Up2U]

Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices
Facebook and Thai politics: Press тАШLikeтАЩ, and hope for the best
By Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices Jul 07, 2015

By Thitipol Panyalimpanun

On the night of June 26 in Bangkok, the Thai police arrested 14 student activists for staging a non-violent demonstration against the junta. They were then charged with sedition and are now being detained. Following the incident, videos, live reports and political statements flooded Facebook. The New Democracy Movement emerged as a new page, demanding that the junta unconditionally release the students. Meanwhile, on the same social network, the juntaтАЩs supporters justified the arrests, claiming there were vested political interests behind the student protest.

Amid the juntaтАЩs ban on political gatherings, people are turning to Facebook as a platform for political discussion. Since the coup last year, the media space for critical political reportage has been shrinking...... (read more).....

http://asiancorrespondent.com/133891/fa ... -the-best/ (http://asiancorrespondent.com/133891/facebook-and-thai-politics-press-like-and-hope-for-the-best/)

[Up2U]

ThailandтАЩs Junta Ignores Southern Thai Insurgency

Posted on July 9, 2015 By Our Correspondent Headline, Politics, Thailand
ThailandтАЩs Junta Ignores Southern Thai Insurgency

Initiatives begun by Yingluck government have been allowed to gather dust

Despite a commitment by the Thai junta that took power in 2014 to pursue talks with Muslim separatists in the far south of the country, the junta тАЬhas focused on preserving bureaucratic and military prerogativesтАЭ without any effort to resolve the long-running insurrection, according to the International Crisis Group.

Since the confrontation blew up in 2004, more than 6,000 people have died, both Muslims and Buddhists, and more than 10,000 have been injured. There are concerns that the insurgency, formerly an ethnic struggle for more autonomy, has been taken over by hardline Jihadis who have declared war on both the Buddhist minority and local Malay Muslim moderates.

The insurgency has grown less lethal over the past year, according to the ICG, but there are worrying indications militants may have expanded operations beyond the traditional conflict zone of the four southernmost provinces..... (read more)....

http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/th ... nsurgency/ (http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/thailand-junta-ignores-southern-insurgency/)

[Up2U]

Academic blames military for weakening democracy
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE SUNDAY NATION July 12, 2015
THE MILITARY is the primary cause of the retreat of democracy in Thailand and Southeast Asia, and the extensive power obtained by coup-makers encourages more putsches in the future, a Thai studies scholar says.
Tyrell Haberkorn from Australian National University said granting amnesty to those launching military coups and passing laws like Article 44 of the provisional charter granting the junta leader absolute power could lead to more coups.

Haberkorn stressed the repercussions from creating a history of coups..... (read more)....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 64278.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Academic-blames-military-for-weakening-democracy-30264278.html)

[Up2U]

Southern Thailand: Dialogue in Doubt
8 Jul 2015

REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

The south Thailand insurgency has grown less lethal over the past year, but there are worrying indications militants may have expanded operations beyond the traditional conflict zone of the four southernmost provinces. Malay-Muslim rebels have been fighting against Thai rule for more than a decade in what they see as a national-liberation struggle. An official dialogue process between Bangkok and separatist leaders that began in 2013 was doomed by divisions on both sides. Since the 22 May 2014 coup in Bangkok, the junta has focused on preserving bureaucratic and military prerogatives. Although it has vowed to pursue talks, the junta rejects pluralism and political debate, promoting тАЬThainessтАЭ and тАЬunityтАЭ concepts that are unlikely to reduce tensions in the south. Resolution of the conflict demands a new relationship between the state and society in the region, which will most likely require greater political decentralisation. All sides should now work to prepare infrastructure for future talks, including dedicated dialogue teams, communications procedures and means for popular participation.

In February 2013, the Yingluck Shinawatra government initiated a dialogue process, facilitated by Malaysia, with representatives of Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (Patani-Malay National Revolutionary Front, BRN), the principal insurgent group...... (read more).....

http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/a ... doubt.aspx (http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-east-asia/thailand/270-southern-thailand-dialogue-in-doubt.aspx)

[Up2U]

Thai Chinese Sub Buy Challenges US Pivot
By Wendell Minnick1 day ago


TAIPEI тАФ Thailand's move to purchase Chinese submarines has exacerbated tensions with the US and poses a challenge to Washington's "pivot" to the Pacific.

The military junta, which declared a coup in May 2014 and created the National Council for Peace and Order, could turn to China for political and military support and cooperation, analysts said. The junta-led Cabinet approved the purchase of three Type 039A (Yuan) attack submarines in early July.

After the coup, the US reduced its presence at the annual Cobra Gold military exercises held with Thailand, and postponed further discussion on planning 2016 exercises.

There are fears in the region that US sanctions are pushing Thailand into China's political sphere, said Martin Sebastian, head of the Centre for Maritime Security and Diplomacy, Maritime Institute of Malaysia..... (read more)......

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defens ... /29904545/ (http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/submarines/2015/07/12/thailand-china-submarines-us-pivot/29904545/)

[Up2U]

CDC bows to key judiciary demands

OJC outsiders, judge appeals rules dropped

14 Jul 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has bowed to judiciary demands and axed two controversial proposals from the draft charter.

The proposals concerned the composition of the Office of the Judicial Commission (OJC) and allowing judges facing disciplinary action from the OJC to appeal to the Supreme Court.

CDC spokesman Borwornsak Uwanno said the decision to drop the provisions followed growing opposition from judges who reportedly planned to gather and hand an open letter to the CDC to voice their disagreement with the proposals.

One proposal required at least one-thirds of OJC members to be non-judges, as opposed to the current set-up which allows only two outsiders тАФ screened and appointed by the Senate тАФ to sit on the commission...... (read more).....

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/62 ... ry-demands (http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/621392/cdc-bows-to-key-judiciary-demands)

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French envoy gets list of lese majeste suspects in exile
The Nation July 14, 2015

Justice Minister General Paiboon Khumchaya yesterday handed a list of suspects facing lese majeste charges to French Ambassador to Thailand Thierry Viteau for acknowledgement.
At the meeting, Paiboon said that Thailand did not want France to take action against these individuals, but just wanted France to learn about facts and understand Thailand's point of view. It is reported that some of these suspects have fled to Franc.

The minister said Thailand understood the question of rights and freedom of expression if cases are politically based, but those related to security offences concerning the monarchy were different and the state gave more importance to these.

Though still unconfirmed, it is believed that at least three names were handed to the ambassador.

Paiboon will also be chairing a meeting with the Foreign Ministry;s high-ranking officials today to follow up on lese majeste cases.

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/z68hc

[Up2U]

Thailand approves $1.8 billion in loans for farmers hit by drought

BANGKOK | Mon Jul 13, 2015

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has approved loans of up to 60 billion baht ($1.77 billion) to support farmers affected by drought, the finance minister said on Monday.

The wet season is under way, but Thailand is contending with drought conditions in seven out of 67 provinces, the National Disaster Warning Center said, and water rationing is taking place in almost a third of the country.

Thailand's state-owned Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) has approved loans for 1 million farmers, following a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Sommai Phasee...... (read more).....

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSK ... 3?irpc=932 (http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0PN1BQ20150713?irpc=932)

[Up2U]

10 Jailed for Running Anti-Monarchy Broadcasting Network
July 14, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ A martial court in Bangkok has handed down jail terms to ten alleged members of an anti-monarchy network that produced nearly 400 online video clips criticizing Thailand's royal family.

Police cracked down on the group, known collectively as the "Banpodj Network," in February and arrested a total of 14 suspects.

The 64-year-old man accused of leading of the network, Hasadin Uraipraiwan, aka Banpodj, was arrested at a hotel in Bangkok on 9 February.

The group was sent to face trial in military court on charges of violating Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Codes, which outlaws criticizing the monarch and carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, and violating the Computer Crime Act, which bans circulating defamatory content and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

Hasadin and seven others were sentenced to five years in prison today, while his wife and a motorcycle taxi driver were sentenced to three years in jail for "providing assistance" to the network. The judge said their jail terms were halved from the original 10-year and 6-year sentences because the defendants plead guilty.

Four other suspects have decided to contest their charges in martial court. They are Ngernkhoon Udomkunakorn, Sivaporn Panya, Thara Wanichpongpan, and Anchan Preelert.

According to the court briefing, the Banpodj Network had produced nearly 400 video and audio clips since 2009 that defame the Thai monarchy. The segments were published on the internet, mostly through Youtube.

Banpodj was well known among a radical wing of the Redshirt movement for constructing complex conspiracy theories about the Royal Family.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 06&section (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1436857542&typecate=06&section)

[Up2U]

Shooting the foreign messengers won't kill the news
Pravit Rojanaphruk
@PravitR July 15, 2015
A disturbing topic that has recently been a top, but off-the-record, point of discussion among many foreign correspondents is the difficulty in getting a work visa and accreditation. Despite being such an important issue, this subject has barely made the news in Thailand.
Reuters recently reported that some foreign journalists were finding it very difficult to get their accreditation. However, it also cited a flat denial from the Foreign Ministry that it was making things difficult.

So, what's all this fuss about?..... (read more).......

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/Vlyls

[Up2U]

'Two parties' behind southern attacks

14 Jul 2015
WRITER: MANOP THIP-OSOD AND AEKARACH SATTABURUTH

The Democrat and Pheu Thai parties slammed a military member of the National Reform Council (NRC) on Tuesday for saying тАЬtwo political partiesтАЭ were conspiring on a campaign of sabotage in the South and planning Bangkok rallies to topple the junta.

Thawatchai Samutsakhon, who is on an NRC committee on political affairs, cited an intelligence report on Tuesday morning that there might be bomb attacks in the three southern border provinces between Wednesday and Friday.

He claimed two unidentified political parties were pulling the strings behind the latest flare-up of violence in the far South by jointly providing financial aid to perpetrators..... (read more).....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... rn-attacks (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/622296/two-parties-behind-southern-attacks)

[Up2U]

New Thai anti-graft law extends death penalty to foreigners
By AP News Jul 15, 2015

BANGKOK (AP) тАФ Thailand has enacted a new anti-corruption law that extends a maximum penalty of capital punishment to foreigners as well as Thais.

Previous legislation provided various punishments, including a possible death penalty, for Thai officials convicted of bribery, though apparently no one was ever executed for the crime.

The new statutes, which took effect July 9 and are part of a separate anti-corruption law, extend those punishments to non-Thais working for foreign governments and international organizations.

The military government that took power after the ouster of an elected civilian government last year has said countering corruption is one of its major goals.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/134167/ne ... oreigners/ (http://asiancorrespondent.com/134167/new-thai-anti-graft-law-extends-death-penalty-to-foreigners/)

[Up2U]

An interesting opinion from a Thai social critic, anti-globalist, anti-Taksin, anti-West journalist.

Democracy? Don't hold тАКтАКтАКтАКтАКyour breath

Sanitsuda Ekachai Op-ed Editor
15 Jul 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS


As long as our culture is deeply rooted in militarism and racism, don't expect a smooth ride towards democracy. I've come to this conclusion after trying to understand why a large number of educated middle-class people still support military dictatorship or why the so-called pro-democracy groups refuse to question Thaksin's authoritarianism.

You might argue that as arch enemies, the Prayut and Thaksin rules are worlds apart. But are they?

The Thaksin-Yingluck governments provoked widespread anger for glaring abuse of power that mocked ethical standards and implied large-scale corruption. They pushed for megaprojects that will destroy local livelihoods and the environment. They turned a blind eye to state complicity in human trafficking and slave labour. They allowed abuse of the lese majeste law for political gains. And they dismissed not only the aspirations of the southern Muslims for administrative decentralisation, but also the same calls for other parts of the country.

What difference has the military regime made?

Admit it, had it not been for boycott threats from the European Union and the United States, there would have been no policy moves to clean up the fishing industry and crackdown on human trafficking rackets.

The military regime has not only pushed for environmentally-destructive projects of its arch enemy, it has also passed laws and regulations to speed them up. Local resistance is silenced by military might. Controversial projects include mining in protected forests, fracking in Isan villages, a deep-sea port at Pak Bara that will annihilate the Andaman Sea, and the promenade that will destroy a long stretch of the Chao Phraya River.

Meanwhile, crackdowns on the forest poor have become more lethal. So has the abuse of the lese majeste law to silence political dissents.

All these moves - including pushing the Rohingya boat people out to sea, the PM's daily blitz against the press, his disdainful remarks about "stupid" rice farmers, or his latest gaffe by comparing the Uighurs migrants with breeding animals - are outrageous and unacceptable. Yet they are understandable given where he comes from.

Like other soldiers, PM Prayut has been trained in a system that is deeply feudal and authoritarian. Its patriotism is one that is rooted in the myth of racial purity of ethnic Thais, or racism. Its main mission is territorial defence against outsiders, who then need to be dehumanised first before being obliterated. Meanwhile, the Thainess it advocates means complete submission to authority, military-style.

Should we be surprised then with what he is doing and saying?

As national leader, his views that are out of touch with the modern world are worrying. But what is a lot more alarming is how they still strike a chord with a large segment of society, particularly those who consider themselves urbane and well-educated.

For me, it is more shocking to see supposedly educated people pouring hate on migrants and asylum seekers and lambasting international organisations and the West as imperialists for interfering with our internal matters.

In fervent support for the regime, they casually discard the fact that labour exploitation violates both human rights and basic morality.

Education is believed to be a panacea for many ills in society. It is supposed to bridge disparity and teach us a sense of decency. We must ask what kind of education we have that teaches people it is okay to discriminate and exploit while keeping the door to life's opportunities open only to the privileged few.

Despite our economic advances, our society is still deeply hierarchical - and patriarchal - with widening disparity. Unfortunately, our education system hasn't helped. Apart from catering for the privileged few, it functions as a tool to instil militarism and cultural bigotry in young minds. It is why exploitation of the poor - and women - has not disappeared with economic development. And why ethnic discrimination is still alive and well among supposedly cosmopolitan city people.

To restore democracy, the military must return to the barracks. But that's not enough.

The charter writers want to make us believe the new constitution will pave the way for real democracy. That's nonsense. Unless we get rid of the militarism in our heads, the weak and poor will continue to suffer under ballot-box democracy. And doing away with military dictatorship will remain a mere illusion.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... our-breath (http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/622868/democracy-don-t-hold-your-breath)

[Up2U]

NSC: No evidence parties funding South violence
15 Jul 2015

The National Security Council has received no reports that political parties are funding violence in the southern border provinces, as claimed by Gen Tawatchai Samutsakhon, a National Reform Council member and former commander of the 2nd Army Region, NSC secretary-general Anusit Kunakorn said on Wednesday...... (read more)....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... h-violence (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/623300/nsc-no-evidence-parties-funding-south-violence)

[Up2U]

Radio operators in hot water for blocking Prayut's show
The Nation July 16, 2015
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) and the Second Army Region have threatened to severely punish 250 radio operators in the Northeast if they continue to block the broadcast signal of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha's weekly radio programme.
The NBTC and the army discovered that 250 radio stations in Nakhon Ratchasima and Buriram provinces failed to relay the broadcast signal of Prayut's weekly show, called "Returning Happiness to the Thai People".

Asawin Mungkhunkamkhao, director of NBTC Region 2, said the station operators would be asked to sign a memorandum of understanding promising to strictly follow the instruction to relay the broadcast signal without any conditions and if they fail to carry out the task, they will be given a warning and then they will find themselves unable to renew their licenses or see them permanently revoked.

The National Council for Peace and Order may also take the operators inside military camps to have their attitudes adjusted.

http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/6MXQ8

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New Public Gathering Law Won't Affect 'Innocent' Protests, Prayuth Says
July 15, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Thailand's military leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has assured the public that a new law restricting political gatherings won't affect any "innocent" or peaceful protests.

"Many countries around the world have this law," Gen. Prayuth said at Government House today, referring to the Public Gathering Act of 2015, which was approved by his Cabinet last night.

"Don't look at it and think that officials want to restrict any rights," he continued. "If the rallies are innocent rallies, peaceful, unarmed, and in accordance with democracy, they can go forward. Who would forbid that? The only exceptions are rallies that don't have innocent intentions or are ready to escalate violence. We have learned lessons about that in the past, haven't we?"

The new law passed by the junta-appointed interim government prohibits public gatherings from blocking the entrances or disrupting the operations of state agencies, airports, ports, train stations, public transportation terminals, hospitals, educational institutes, religious buildings, embassies, headquarters of international organizations, and other venues that the authorities may declare as off-limit.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1436959011&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Thai Consulate in Germany attempts to bar anti-junta academic
Submitted by editor2 on Wed, 15/07/2015

The Thai Consulate in Germany threatened to withdraw donations to a German university in Frankfurt for inviting an anti-junta lecturer to talk about Thai politics.

According to Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a fierce critic of the Thai junta who is a Thai Associate Professor at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Japan, the Thai Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany, on Tuesday, 14 July 2015, threatened to withdraw funding to the Goethe University of Frankfurt for inviting him to speak as a guest lecturer about Thai political development.

Pavin posted on his Facebook profile on Tuesday a message that he was contacted by the staff of the Goethe University of Frankfurt at short notice to cancel a special lecture on Thai politics, which he had been invited to give...... (read more).....

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5315

Thai Junta Threatens German University

Posted on July 15, 2015 By Our Correspondent Headline, Politics, Thailand
Thai Junta Threatens German University

Pavin Chachavalpongpun

Thai embassy in Berlin tries to stop speech by dissident exile academic

The long arm of ThailandтАЩs junta apparently reaches to Germany, where Thai officials attempted to block a speech by dissident academician Pavin Chachavalpongpun to students at the Southeast Asian Department at Goethe University in Frankfurt by threatening to cut off funds to the program.

Pavin has been a target of the National Council Peace and Order almost since the May 22 coup that ended representative democracy in Thailand. Frankfurt, where he now is on a study program, is the overseas home of Thai Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, the heir to the Thai throne, which could or could not be important.

PavinтАЩs Thai passport has been revoked and the Thai foreign ministry has attempted to pressure Japan, where he normally teaches at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University, to extradite him back to Thailand. He is one of hundreds of dissidents who have gone into exile, but is one of a relatively small number of high-value targets that the government would particularly like to retrieve..... (read more)........

http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/th ... niversity/ (http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/thailand-junta-threatens-german-university/)

[Up2U]

Govt urged to pay farmers
THE NATION July 17, 2015

The water supply cut, which took effect yesterday, is expected to affect 1.4 million rai of paddy fields in central region
A NATIONAL network of rice farmers has urged the government to pay compensation to farmers whose paddies have been damaged by the sharp cut in water supply to the agriculture sector.

Ubonsak Bualuang-ngam, chairman of the Rice Committee of National Farmers' Council, said the compensation sought by the grouping's members is about Bt3,000-Bt4,000 per rai - the amount the farmers have already invested in their farmland before the water supply was cut off yesterday.

"We submitted letters to the government twice, but there has been no response so far. Such a compensation would be necessary because we followed the government's advice by starting the annual rice crop on May 1..... (read more)...

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 64628.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Govt-urged-to-pay-farmers-30264628.html)

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EU warns Thailand still not doing enough to end illegal fishing

17 Jul 2015
WRITER: REUTERS

The European Union has warned Thailand that it is still not doing enough to stamp out illegal fishing practices, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said Friday, reigniting the threat of a ban on seafood exports to the EU.

In April, the EU had given the country six months to address issues related to "illegal, unreported and unregulated" fishing, such as ensuring all boats are registered, have authorised equipment and are fitted with a Vessel Monitoring System. If the country failed to do so, it faced a total block on exports to the trade bloc.

Stricter regulations went into effect this month and many of the country's fishermen stopped work either in protest against the new rules or because they didn't want to risk stiff penalties if caught.

While the government thought it had fulfilled its obligations to the EU, it apparently has fallen short....... (read more)......

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... al-fishing (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/626108/eu-warns-thailand-still-not-doing-enough-to-end-illegal-fishing)

[Up2U]

No Change to Charter Referendum Date, Official
July 17, 2015

BANGKOK - Thailand's Election Commission has assured the public that the referendum for the new constitution will still be held on 10 January 2016, despite a recent extension of the charter drafting period.

On Wednesday, the Thai King gave his formal signature to the military government's amendment to the current interim charter, extending the drafting process of the new constitution by 30 days.

However, Puchong Nutrawong, secretary-general of the Election Commission, confirmed today that the referendum is still set for 10 January 2016. "We have not seen any reason to change the date for the referendum," he said...... (read more)....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1437119402&section=11)

[Up2U]

Court Deems Former Govt's Censorship of Yellowshirt TV Legal
July 17, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ A court in Bangkok has ruled that the previous government was authorized to censor a Yellowshirt-affiliated television show that accused Redshirts of plotting to overthrow the Thai monarchy.

The case dates back to September 2011 when the state-run Channel 11 refused to air a segment produced by Green Intelligence company, which had a contract with the channel to air news every Friday from 9-10pm.

The company also produced programs for T-News, a private TV station allied to the conservative Yellowshirt movement that campaigned against the pre-coup government led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was elected with the overwhelming support of the rival Redshirts in July 2011.

At the time, the Department of Public Relations, which operates Channel 11, said the show falsely asserted that Redshirts were plotting to overthrow the monarchy, and argued that the segment could affect ThailandтАЩs national security...... (read more).....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1437133903&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Pheu Thai Watana vents anger at junta for overseas travel ban
in Politics | July 17, 2015

Former commerce minister Watana Muangsook vented his anger on Friday after he found out that he was banned by the National Council for Peace and Order from leaving the country for 90 days until September 18 after which his case will be reconsidered.

In a written statement under the headline тАЬOne year that is more than a wasteтАЭ which was made available on Friday, the Pheu Thai PartyтАЩs core member said that the NCPOтАЩs thinking and working systems were so pathetic that he was not surprised that so much damages had been rendered to the country during their administration.

Citing economic performance, Watana said the NCPO had failed completely in all economic aspects with export and consumption slump, no new investments and less than half of governmentтАЩs spending was actually disbursed..... (read more).....

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pheu-t ... travel-ban (http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pheu-thai-watana-vents-anger-at-junta-for-overseas-travel-ban)

[Up2U]

Prosecutors skip last two days of Phuketwan defamation trial
Published on Thursday 16 July 2015.

The three-day trial of two English-language website journalists accused of defaming the Royal Thai Navy and violating the Computer Crimes Act was conducted in the absence of prosecutors representing the Royal Thai Navy on the second and third days.

As a result, the trial of Alan Morison, the Australian editor of the news website Phuketwan, and Chutima Sidasathian, one of his Thai reporters, ended at midday today in the southwestern province of Phuket after the defence witnesses were heard. The court is to issue its verdict on 1 September.

The absence of the prosecutors yesterday and today, for which no explanation was given, underscored the weakness of the prosecutionтАЩs case. In their absence, Morison and Chutima were questioned by the presiding judge and the eight lawyers who flanked him.

тАЬIf the prosecutors could not be bothered to come and cross-examine the main defence witnesses, their flimsy arguments were clearly no match for what was a well-argued and solid defence,тАЭ said Benjamin Isma├пl, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Asia-Pacific Bureau, who attended the trial as an observer...... (read more)......

http://linkis.com/en.rsf.org/fHX7g

[Up2U]

NYTimes
A Thai House Divided

By PAVIN CHACHAVALPONGPUN
July 19, 2015

A rift is growing within ThailandтАЩs military-royalist establishment, threatening the countryтАЩs stability and undermining prospects that the upcoming royal succession will unfold smoothly.

On one side is an old guard of senior officers who gradually consolidated power during the long reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. On the other is a new guard from a semi-autonomous elite military unit at the service of Queen Sirikit, which includes the leaders of last yearтАЩs coup against the elected government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra..... (read more)...

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/07/20/op ... ?referrer= (http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/07/20/opinion/a-thai-house-divided.html?referrer=)

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Khaosod English
20 July 2015

Thai Junta Govt to Stay Until 2017:

BANGKOK тАФ Thailand will not see an elected government until early 2017, according to the deputy chairman of the juntaтАЩs interim parliament, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

Peerasak Porchit told reporters in Lopburi province on 18 July that he believes the "road map" promised by the ruling junta, which seized power from an elected government in May 2014, may be extended yet again in order to prepare for the referendum on the new constitution.

Under the current schedule, which has seen the date for elections postponed several times, the referendum for the junta-drafted charter will take place in January 2016, followed by a national election in September 2016, if the charter passes the vote.

But Peerasak said he believes referendum date may have to be postponed...... (read more).....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1437371207&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Refer to the NYTimes article on the previous page
20 July 2015
Thai Govt Asks Japan to Reconsider Housing Exiled Academic

BANGKOK тАФ A minister of Thailand's military government said he has asked the Japanese ambassador to "reconsider" whether it is appropriate for Japan to shelter an academic charged with insulting the Thai monarchy, a crime known as lese majeste.

Justice Minister Paiboon Khumchaya told reporters he raised the issue during a meeting with Japanese ambassador Shiro Sadoshima at the Ministry of Justice today.

According to Gen. Paiboon, Sadoshima visited to the Ministry to introduce himself as JapanтАЩs new ambassador to Thailand. Gen Paiboon said he took the opportunity to discuss Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a Thai academic living in Japan who has been charged with insulting the monarchy, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison under Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Codes.

Pavin is believed to have left Thailand shortly after royalist military officers staged a coup against an elected government in May 2014. In July of that year, the military government charged Pavin with lese majeste and stripped him of his Thai passport.

Pavin is currently a professor at Kyoto University in Japan, and has continued to criticize the junta and write about the monarchy on social media and in op-eds for foreign publications, including the New York Times..... (read more)....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1437394181 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1437394181)

[Up2U]

Army refutes Thaksin claim for reason behind coup
The Nation July 20, 2015

The Army staged the coup on May 22 last year on its own and was not influenced by any particular group of people, as had been claimed by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Maj-General Sarayut Klinmahom, director of the Army's Judge Advocate Office, made the statement while testifying before the Criminal Court Monday during a hearing of the Army's libel case against the ex-PM.

"Nobody ordered the Army to seize political power," Sarayut told the court.

He represented the Army in bringing the case to court against Thaksin, who in May made the accusation in an interview with the media in South Korea.

Thaksin's interview later was posted on YouTube file-sharing website and social media.

Sarayut told the court that Thaksin had defamed the Army for painting it as damaging the country and admiring the dictatorial rule of Myanmar's military government.

He said the Army staged the coup to prevent further destabilisation of the country, following months of protest, a political deadlock and loss of lives from the use of war weapons.

"The Army needed to restore peace and prevent further harm to national security. The power seizure was unlikely to cause a negative impact on the country. As many as 80-90 per cent of the people agreed with the coup. There were people who opposed it, but the number was very [low]," he said. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakin ... 64838.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Army-refutes-Thaksin-claim-for-reason-behind-coup-30264838.html)

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21 July 2015
Junta Says Yingluck Free to Attend Brother's Birthday Abroad

BANGKOK тАФ Thailand's ruling military junta has dismissed claims that former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been barred from attending the birthday of her brother Thaksin Shinawatra, another former PM who is currently living in a self-imposed exile to avoid a corruption conviction.

Many supporters of Yingluck, known as the Redshirts, have been posting on social media that Yingluck and other Pheu Thai Party politicians have been banned from leaving the country for ThaksinтАЩs birthday celebration. In spite of his exile, Thaksin, who will turn 66 on 26 July, remains extremely influential among the Redshirts and his political dynasty in Thailand.

Speaking to reporters today, the deputy sec-gen of the military junta, which toppled Yingluck's government last May, dismissed the claims that the former PM has been banned from traveling abroad.
..... (read more)......

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1437459182 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1437459182)

[Up2U]

Will only post the link. You will have to read for yourself, sorry
Thailand will never have democracy unlessтАж
By
Somchai Rattanakosin, Guest Contributor
тАУ 21 July 2015


http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... cy-unless/ (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/07/21/thailand-will-never-have-democracy-unless/)

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FTI: It's time for action
Economic team urged to speed up work
22 Jul 2015
NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS | WRITER: LAMONPHET APISITNIRAN & CHATRUEDEE THEPARAT

Business leaders have criticised the government's economic team as being too slow in tackling the economic slowdown.

The team must improve its working speed to cope with the rapidly changing situation or else the second half will be worse than the first half, they say. (read more).......

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/new ... for-action (http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/630216/fti-it-time-for-action)

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Ultra-royalist named as candidate for national rights agency
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 21/07/2015

The Thai national rights agency has announced a list of seven candidates to replace the old human rights commissioners while a human researcher raised question whether most candidates are qualified as human rights defenders..... (read more)......

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5336

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AP News
Thailand: Coal plant proposed for pristine Krabi coast sparks outcry
By AP News Jul 21, 2015

BANGKOK (AP) тАФ The popular tourist beaches near southern ThailandтАЩs Andaman coast may soon play host to an unlikely new fixture: an 800-megawatt coal power plant..... (read more).....

http://asiancorrespondent.com/134258/th ... ks-outcry/ (http://asiancorrespondent.com/134258/thailand-coal-plant-proposed-for-pristine-krabi-coast-sparks-outcry/)

[Up2U]

No intro, you must read this one on your own here (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/07/23/political-implications-of-thailands-royal-succession/).

[Oliver]

I have read it. Thanks. I suppose I had better refrain from commenting....dangerous times.

[Up2U]

Rangsiman is a pro democracy activist in Thailand who engages in anti-coup d'etat movement.

Demanding Democracy Is Seditious in Thailand
Posted: 07/22/2015
Most people feel that it is nearly impossible for unarmed citizens to overthrow and wrest power back from an armed dictatorship. To fight against dictatorship is tantamount to hanging one's life by a thread.

Immediately after the coup d'├йtat on May 22, 2014, my friends and I began protests calling for democracy....... (read more).....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rangsiman ... 41590.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rangsiman-rome/demanding-democracy-is-sedemanding-democracy-is-seditious-in-thailand_b_7841590.html)

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NYTimes
Thailand Charges 72 With Human Trafficking Crimes Ahead of U.S. Report

By POYPITI AMATATHAM
July 24, 2015

BANGKOK тАФ Prosecutors in Thailand indicted 72 people on Friday, accusing them of involvement in a multinational human trafficking syndicate. The indictments were filed three days before the expected release of an annual State Department report on human trafficking in countries around the world, including Thailand...... (read more).....

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/07/25/wo ... &referrer= (http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/07/25/world/asia/thailand-charges-72-with-human-trafficking-crimes-ahead-of-us-report.html?_r=0&referrer=)

No intro, you must read this one on your own here (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/07/23/political-implications-of-thailands-royal-succession/).
If you're going to use RSS or something similar like Flipboard this site is a has-to-have subscription

[Up2U]

The Post's View
ThailandтАЩs move to return Uighurs to China is a massive moral failure
By Editorial Board July 24

AFTER A military coup in May 2014 that converted Thailand from democracy to dictatorship, the country bade farewell to free expression and fair elections. Now, itтАЩs saying goodbye to its international obligations, too. ThereтАЩs no starker example of ThailandтАЩs legal and moral failures than its decision this month to send 109 refugee Uighurs тАФ an ethnically Turkish Muslim minority тАФ back to China, where they will almost surely face persecution and possibly torture...... (read more)..... https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions ... story.html (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/returning-uighurs-to-a-dangerous-home/2015/07/24/97d8d492-2be8-11e5-bd33-395c05608059_story.html)

[Up2U]

No intro, you must read this one on your own here (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/07/23/political-implications-of-thailands-royal-succession/).
If you're going to use RSS or something similar like Flipboard this site is a has-to-have subscription
Agree!