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Re: Protests update
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
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Re: Protests update
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
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Re: Protests update
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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Re: Protests update
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§ion=
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Re: Protests update
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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Re: Protests update
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
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Re: Protests update
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
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Re: Protests update
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
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Re: Protests update
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
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Re: Protests update
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=