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Thai Politics Updates – May 2011

Thai-Cambodian relation After the outbreak of violence between Thai and Cambodian soldiers that left 18 people

killed last month, Thai and Cambodian leaders agreed to meet again on the sidelines of the

ASEAN Summit held in Jakarta on the 8th

of May. Under the mediation of the Indonesian

President Susilo Bambong Yudoyono, Abhisit Vejjajiya and Hun Sen stood firm to their

positions and apparently could not agree on the details of proposed deployment of Indonesian

observers in the area; the Thai Prime Minister asked the Cambodian troops to withdraw from

the area before any Indonesian observers be sent, while the Cambodians wanted the Indonesia

team to arrive before they can consider troop withdrawal. Both leaders admitted the conflict

could affect Asean's goal to become a single community in 2015 but blamed each other for

endangering the project. The next day, foreign ministers of both countries agreed to a six-

point “package solution” (Bangkok Post, 10/05) including the deployment of an Indonesian

Observation Team to the disputed border area, and a set of common procedures for the

holding of the Joint Border Commission (JBC) and General Border Committee (GBC) .

On May 30 and 31, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) considered the case of Preah

Vihear opposing Thailand and Cambodia, under the request of Phnom Penh. The ICJ, which

had ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, was now being asked to deliver a

judgment on whose ownership claim on the land surrounding the temple was rightful.

Cambodia‟s demand included an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Thai troops

from the disputed area and a ban on Thai military activity. Thailand simply wanted to ICJ to

refuse to consider the case.

According to the Thailand defense team, Thailand had accepted the earlier ICJ ruling. So had

Cambodia but Phnom Penh started to challenge border demarcation around the temple when

Preah Vihear was listed as a World Heritage Site in July 2008. Thai Foreign Minister, Kasit

Piromya, reiterated that Thailand's dispute was specifically over the 4.6-square-kilometre

area surrounding the complex and NOT on the temple itself (Bangkok Post, 31/05/11).

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House dissolution The Lower House was dissolved on the 10

th of May 2011 and snap election called after the

Constitution Court on the 9th

of May unanimously ruled that the three election-related bills

passed by parliament were not unconstitutional, clearing way for a general election. The three

bills govern elections of MPs and senators, political parties, and the Election Commission.

Days before the House was dissolved, in a marathon cabinet meeting the government

approved a long list of projects and other spending, including a 25-billion baht home

mortgage subsidy program for first-time home-buyers, 15.8 billion baht for education reform

projects under the Education Ministry, and 10.7 billion baht for a long-term human resources

development project under the Ministry of Public Health. The opposition accused the

government of trying to buy votes through government projects.

2011 General Election Political party “primaries”

Before the dissolution was even announced and the date for new elections set, all political

parties started to seek the best candidates and work on their policy platform.

Yingluck Shinawatra, the youngest sister of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin, was on

Monday 16 May chosen to fill the No.1 spot on the Pheu Thai party list, which implies that in

case of a victory, she will become the first female prime minister of Thailand. She was at first

widely criticized by the Democrat Party as lacking political experience and being just another

puppet of Thaksin unable to take a decision by herself. However she said that, with regards

to the party-list, Thaksin would not have to check it, but that he would only work on

developing the policies.

Asian Thai New Network asserted that Yingluck may be subject to disqualification under the

constitution‟s Section 102, barring people whose assets have been seized by court order for

reasons of unusual wealth or unusual increase in wealth; the 26 February 2010 Supreme

Court Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders decision in the Thaksin Shinawatra asset

seizure also found that Yingluck had been among the proxies who held shares on behalf of

Thaksin. Former Assets Scrutiny Committee member Kaewsan Atibhodhi claimed that

Yingluck could face three charges of perjury for testimony given to the defunct ASC, the

Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Supreme Court. A source at the Office of the

Attorney-General, however, which would apparently be responsible for bringing charges

against Yingluck, reportedly said that Yingluck‟s testimony did not damage anyone and

should not be considered actionable.

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Banned politicians continued to wield influence in other political parties as well, like Newin

Chidchob for Bhumjaithai and Banharn Silapa-acha for Chat Thai Pattana Party.

In the Democrat Party, Abhisit Vejjajiya was chosen as the natural party-list number 1

candidate.

Candidacy registration

The registration period for candidates on party lists kicked off on Thursday, May 19, at the

Thai-Japanese Stadium in Din Daeng. Jatuporn Promparn, rather well placed on the Pheua

Thai party list asked the Criminal Court for a temporary release from jail to be able to present

himself at the registration, but in vain.

Party representatives met at the Thai-Japanese stadium to draw their ballot numbers. The

Pheua Thai party got the lucky “1” number and the Democrat Party the “10”. In total, 40

parties registered.

Party-lists

Number Party English

unofficial

translation

Number 1 candidate

and other high-profile

party-list candidates

Number

of

candidate

s on the

party list

1. Pheua Thai For Thais 1.Yingluck Shinawatra

2.Yongyuth

Wichaidith

3.Chalerm

Yumbamrung

4.Sanoh Thienthong

6.Mingkwan

Saengsuwan

8.Jatuporn Promparn

9.Nattawut Saikua

125

2. Chat Pattana

Pheua Pendin

Nation‟s

Development for

the Land

Prapan Limpaphan 125

3. Prachatipatai

Mai

New Democracy - 6

4

4. Prachakon Thai Thai Citizen

Party

Sumit Sunthonwet 13

5. Rak Prathet Thai Love Thailand Chuwit Kamonwisit 11

6. Palang Chon Palang Chon

Party

Santasak Charoon

Ngampichet

18

7. Prachatham Prachatham Ta Enrul Lo Hama 25

8. Damrong Thai Damrong Thai

Party

Chot Pat Sakundi

Cheut Chu

13

9. Palang Muan

Chon

Mass Power Visnu Insopyung 8

10. Prachatipat Democrat Party 1.Abhisit Vejjajiya

2.Chuan Leekpai

6.Korn Chatikavanij

8.Apirak Khosayothin

42.Kasit Piromya

125

11. Thai Popieng Sufficiency

Party

Chamrat Intuman 3

12. Rak Santi Love Peace Pracham Piensombun 64

13. Thai pen Suk Happy Thais Pradit Sri Pracha 5

14. Kit Sangkhom Social Action Suwit Khunkitti 125

15. Thai Pen Thai Thai is Thai

Party

Pongsuchin

Wirakittapanith

10

16. Bhumjaithai Proud to be Thai Chawrat Chanwirakul 125

17. Then khun

Pendin

Wemaadi Wetao 32

18. Pheua Pha Din For heaven and

earth party

KhenFa Senmuang 1

19. Khreua Khai

Chaw Na Heng

Prathet Thai

Thai farmers‟

network party

Chot BunCheung 30

20. Kan Meuang

Mai

New Politics Somsak Kosaisuk 24

21. Chat Thai

Pattana

Development of

the Nation

Chumpon Silpa acha 125

22. Seriniyom Liberal Party Phutchat Chueyram 8

23. Chat Samakdi National

harmony

Noppadon

Chairathideth

9

24. Bamrung Muang Nurture the

country

Thani Suranpheut 14

25. Kasikorn Thai Kasikorn Thai Chamlong Damsim 2

26. Matubhum Matubhum Party Sonthi Boonyaratglin 40

27. Chiwit thi di kwa Better life party Wonthawarit

Thantipirom

4

28. Palang

Sangkhom Thai

Society‟s Power Wiwat Leayuk 5

5

29. Pheua

Prachachon Thai

For Thai people Deerek Klingchan 4

30. Mahachon Mahachon Party Apirat Sirinawin 6

31. Prachachon

Chaw Thai

Thai people Sunthon Sriboonak 5

32. Rak Pendin Love the land Thonkrit

Waythawainon

1

33. Prachasanti Civil Peace

Party

Seri Suwannaphanon 34

34. Kwamwang Mai New hope ChingChai

Mongkontham

125

35. Asamatuphum Assamatuphum Tiradet Leutsatanon 3

36. Palang Khon

Kila

Sport‟s party of

Thailand

Wanna Sattana

Satchakun

103

37. Palang Chaw Na

Thai

Thai Farmer‟s

powers

Ms Thongkham

Kusoniem

5

38. Thai Sang San Creative Thai Chetanarin Piemrasari 4

39. Pheua Kaset

Thai

For Thai

Agriculture

Ubonsak

Bualuangngam

23

40. Maharat Pattana Maharat Pattana

Party

Narongchai

Panyanonthachai

2

Total 1,410

Constituency-based MPs

The candidacy registration for constituency-based seats was open from May 24 to May 28.

Pheua Thai and the Democrat Party fielded candidates in each of the 375 constituencies.

Links between colour-coded social movements and political parties

While the constitution of party-lists seem to have confirmed the linkage between the red-

shirts and the Pheua Thai Party, the relationship between the yellow-shirts and the Democrat

Party seem to have lost all relevance during this electoral campaign.

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A faction of the remaining PAD members called for a “no vote”, with a very visually striking

campaign portraying all politicians as animals with the slogan “don‟t let animals enter the

parliament”, while another faction called on yellow-shirts to vote for the PAD‟s political

wing, the New Politics Party.

On the other hand, the street politics movement UDD stood right beside the Pheua Thai party

during the campaign and made up 20 percent of the list. Indeed, according to the Nation or

the Bangkok Post, at least 25 red-shirt leaders or their close associates - including the wives

of four leaders – were placed among the Pheua Thai Party's 125 candidates contesting the

July 3 general elections in the party-list system. These include key leaders of last year's street

rally, Jatuporn Prompan and Natthawut Saikua, who have the 8th and 9th spots respectively

on the party list. Weng Tojirakarn, another key red-shirt leader, is in 19th place on the list.

This significant presence of red-shirts on the Pheua Thai party list contented the red-shirts

very much. As red-shirt leader Thida Tojirakarn put it, “the Pheu Thai Party was now a mass

political party as red leaders were able to fill its party list. The masses have now begun to

control the party," (the Nation, 20 May 21)

Launch of the electoral campaign

Democrat Party leader Abhsiit Vejjajiva launched his party‟s election campaigning at the

Temple of Dawn, in Bangkok, before a crowd of about 200. He promised that his party would

fight consumer product price increases, and help raise people‟s incomes and living standards.

He pledged a 25 percent increase in the daily minimum wage within two years, a 25 percent

increase in farm subsidies, loans for 250,000 university students, and further development of

the 15-year free education program. He said he would establish a drug task force.

Launching her campaign for Pheu Thai in Chiang Mai, Yingluck Shinawatra declared to a

crowd of about 15,000 supporters that if elected she would declare a new war on drugs and

drive illicit drugs out of society within 12 months. She also announced she would declare war

on poverty, eliminating it within four years. She promised to increase funding under the

village fund scheme to two million baht per village, and to make sure the 30 baht health care

program works again.

Election Commission

Amidst growing concerns about the possible use of the monarchy as a political tool by

candidates and parties, the Election Commission refused to issue regulations on the matter,

rather inviting all political parties to sign a mutual agreement to refrain from doing so. The

agreement was a key element of the so-called five-point testament signed on the 2nd

of May at

a meeting organised by the Election Commission (EC) in Bangkok.

Opinion Polls

Various organizations including Suan Dusit and ABAC published opinion polls results on all

sorts of issues relating to the electoral campaign. Polls showed that while the race was to be

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fierce in Bangkok, both parties would retain their traditional strongholds, the North and Isan

for the Pheua Thai, the South for the Democrats, with a very low abstention rate (less than 10

percent).

Throughout the month, poll results showed that Thai people were calling for a debate

between the leaders of the two main parties, sending a strong signal that Thailand has entered

a two-party or bipartisan system. However, while Abhisit affirmed that he really liked the

idea, Yingluck declined the offer, arguing that she had no time for it. An interesting poll on

the comparison between perceptions of the two leaders‟ prime ministerial abilities was

conducted by Abac during the last week of April. As summarized in the Bangkok Post,

(02/05), “Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has outperformed Yingluck Shinawatra in 17 of

18 criteria in an opinion poll to rate the country's next leader. Mr Abhisit was beaten by Ms

Yingluck, one of Pheu Thai Party's would-be candidates for the premiership and the younger

sister of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in one area _ wealth and business

achievements. The Democrat leader outperformed Ms Yingluck in temper control (53.7%-

9.7% ), politeness (50.1%-13%), domestic and international recognition (49.6%- 11.3%),

good conduct (49.6%- 9.8%), kindness (48.2%-13.1%), leadership (48.1%-12.9%), ability

(47.9%-10.9%), political ethics (46.9%-11%), vision (46.8%- 15.2%), sacrifice for the

country (44%-11.9%), honesty (42.9%- 10.3%), fairness (41.4%-10.6%), decisiveness

(40.1%-19%) and problem-solving (38.8%-14.3%).”

Despite Thai perceptions that Abhisit was more qualified for the top job, by the end of the

month most polls were forecasting Yingluck‟s electoral victory.

Coalition politics

In Thai parliamentary politics, it is common knowledge that who has to run the country must

be able to command 300 or more seats to secure a stable government. Also, each smaller

party is eager to join a coalition under the leadership of either one or the other of the two

major parties, the Democrat Party and the Pheua Thai, without ideological considerations.

Talks for forming alliances began very early, as soon as the electoral campaign was launched.

In anticipation of Yingluck‟s electoral victory, many political parties expressed their

readiness to work together with the red party. After the Democrat and the Pheua Thai party,

Bhumjaithai party is expected to win the most votes. Former Transport Minister, Sohpon

Zarum, also Bhumjaithai's deputy leader, said that the party's main goal was to be part of the

next government, no matter which party leads it or who will be prime minister. However,

Pheua Thai excluded this possibility because of „diverging ideologies‟ (Yingluck, quote).

Bhumjaithai was formerly a faction of the Palang Prachachon (People‟s Power Party) which,

when the PPP was dissolved, allied with the Democrat Party and were instrumental in the set

up of the Parliament in December 2008.

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Court cases Yellow-shirts

On the 10th

of May, police recommended the prosecution of 114 yellow shirts in connection

with the seizures of Government House and Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in

2008. They include Chamlong Srimuang, leader of the People‟s Alliance for Democracy

(PAD) and former core ally of Thaksin Shinawatra,

The previous day, the Criminal Court sentenced five PAD guards to three years‟

imprisonment (reduced to two for their confessions) for attempted hijacking of a passenger

bus. The five were Teeradet Wanna, Chaiwat Thapthong, Thani Art-sawang, Somchai

Thongkiart and Pongpan Kachan. (A sixth defendant had died on April 2 before the verdict).

Red-shirts

At the beginning of the month, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) asked the

Criminal Court to revoke the bail of nine red-shirt leaders for breaking their bail conditions

by making speeches at a red-shirt protest rally site in Bangkok on April 10. They include

Veerakarn (formerly Veera) Musikhapong, Jatuporn Prompan, Natthawut Saikua, Weng

Tojirakarn, Korkaew Pikulthong, Kwanchai Praipana, Yoswarit Chuklom, Nisit Sinthuprai

and Wiputhalaeng Pattanaphumchai. The Criminal Court cancelled bail of Jatuporn and Nisit.

On the 12th

of May, the Criminal Court denied a bail request for red-shirt leaders and former

MPs Jatuporn Prompan and Nisit Sinthuprai filed by a lawyer of the United Front for

Democracy against Dictatorship. The bail was rejected on ground of possible unrest caused

by the release of the two men.

On the 19th

of May, sentences in connection with carrying weapons without registration at

protest sites in April last year were reduced or cancelled by the Criminal Court. One of the

men who were arrested on March 6, 2010 in the police parking lot was a close associate of

high-profile Maj Gen Khattiya “Seh Daeng” Sawasdipol, shot in the head by a sniper on May

13, 2010.

More importantly, 17 core members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship

(UDD) were summoned by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to appear to hear

lese majeste charges against them on June 2.

Altogether 19 core UDD members are accused of lèse-majesté in their speeches at a UDD

rally on April 10 at the Democracy Monument in violation of Articles 83, 86, 112 and 116 of

the Criminal Code. They are Jatuporn Prompan, Weng Tojirakarn, Natthawut Saikua,

Korkaew Pikulthong, Thida Thavornseth, Karun Hosakul, Yossawaris Chuklom or Jeng

Dokchik, Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai, Veerakarn Musikhapong, Chinawat Haboonphat,

Wichian Khaokham, Suporn Atthawong, Kwanchai Sarakham, Nisit Sinthuprai, Prasit

Chaisrisa, Worawut Wichaidit, Ladawal Wongsriwong, Somchai or Pipatchai Paiboon, and

Payap Panket. Of the 19, Mr Jatuporn and Mr Nisit are currently detained in the Bangkok

Remand Prison on terrorism charges after their bail was revoked.

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Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, executive editor of the now-defunct Voice of Thaksin magazine

and former core leader of the UDD, was arrested on April 30 on lèse-majesté charges.

Security issues Electoral violence

As soon as the dissolution of the House became effective, the first election-related violent

incident occurred. Former Pheua Thai MP for Samut Prakan Pracha Prasopdee was shot in

the back by unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike on May 10.

The second incident took place in Bangkok‟s Bang Khun‟s district on May 26. The house of

a canvasser for the Democrat Party was attacked by gunmen but no one was injured or hurt.

According to the Royal Thai police, a total of 77 party list and constituency MP candidates

nationwide had asked for police protection by the end of May, most of them from the

incumbent Democrat Party and the opposition Pheua Thai Party.

Southern insurgency

Violence in the Deep South continued to break out on a daily basis in May, leaving people

dead including monks (May 17, Yala) suspected militants in a gunfight with security forces

(May 20, Yala) police officers (May 29, Narathiwat), army soldier (May 25, Yala) and

ordinary Muslim villagers (Yala, May 25)

Yellow-shirt rally

The yellow–shirt rally, still on in Bangkok‟s Rachadomnoen area, seems to have lost

momentum; its radical stance on election (“vote-no campaign” with the slogan “don‟t let

animals enter the parliament” portraying politicians as water monitor or buffalos) combined

with its extremist stance on the border dispute led to gradual loss of credibility for the

movement. After a few defections over the previous months, another former ally (the “Thais

loving peace group”) called on the PAD to end its protest.

Internal Security Act

The Internal Security Act was lifted from Bangkok on May 24. It had remained active until

then in seven districts including Dusit, Phra Nakhon, Pomprap Sattruphai, Ratchathewi,

Pathumwan, Watthana and Wang Thong Lang. The Center for the Administration of Peace

and Order, in charge of the ISA implementation, was subsequently closed down on the same

day.

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Freedom of Assembly

On May the 27th

, the Parliament passed a bill regulating public protests. The bill is now

waiting for Senate‟s approval.

Reconciliation “KHWAMPRONDONG”

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, appointed by the Democrat-led Government and

headed by Kanit Na Nakorn, closed its public hearings sessions. The head of the sub-

committee in charge of the hearings, Somchai Homla-or, expressed its regrets that the army,

the DSI, the police and red-shirts did not give their full cooperation with the Commission. He

highlighted the fact that the Commission had no power to summon people to testify.

A keyword of the red-shirts campaign is „no reconciliation and no peace without truth”.

Accountability for the events that left about 2,000 people injured and 91 people dead is a

precondition to reconciliation.

National Reform

Also of high interest are the conclusions of another panel appointed by Abhisit‟s government

on national reform. The committee, led by a former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun,

dissolved itself on the 14th

of May. Anand Panyarachun announced that he and the other

members of the National Reform Committee have decided to resign now that a general

election has been called. Anand complained that so far no political party has a clear policy on

national reform, and that injustice prevails in the country because power is concentrated in

Bangkok and other large cities. Anand also warned against populist policies that would put

the government in debt and rob it of independence.

Article 112 of the Criminal Code

On May 20, following a complaint filed against Thammasat University lecturer Somsak

Jiamteerasakul, one hundred writers co-signed a letter demanding an end to the use of the

lèse-majesté law (article 112 of the Criminal Code) as a political tool. It especially calls on

the army to stop using the law to silence its opponents. The move came months after another

campaign, “Raise awareness 112” composed of well-known movie directors, advertising

creatives, academics, journalists and students to commit themselves to the campaign to raise

the public's awareness about the use of the law.

According to media accounts, more and more people are being arrested under the law. For

instance, in late May, authorities arrested Thai-born American citizen Joe Gordon for lèse-

majesté and violation of the Computer Crime Act for content posted on his website, Nor Por

Chor U.S.A, .; on 15 March 2011, in a separate case, Tantawut Taweeworadomkul was

convicted on grounds of being the site‟s web master.

Military reshuffle

Army commander Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha reportedly ordered a military reshuffle, moving

157 colonels and lieutenant colonels.

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Appointment at the Privy Council

HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej has appointed ACM Chalit Pukbhasuk as a privy councillor.

The appointment took effect from May 18. Born on April 5, 1948, Chalit is a former chief of

the Royal Thai Air Force.

Environmental rights

Since the end of the month, civil courts are now entitled to accept environmental lawsuits.

Supreme Court president Sobchoke Sukharom and court officials presided over the

inauguration of environmental lawsuits through Civil Court procedures. Such cases require

no lawsuit fees or lower fees from plaintiffs than in normal civil cases. On May 25, the civil

court accepted its first case in which 214 farmers demand 2 million bath compensation from a

garbage-disposal firm.

Telecommunications The Telecoms Of Thailand (TOT) announced they will launch their much-awaited 3G

network by the middle of 2012. It will first be available in Bangkok and 13 provinces in the

Greater Bangkok Region.

TOT, which has so far recruited five companies to provide the 3G Service on their network,

hit the headlines at the end of last year for accusations of unfairness of its bidding process.

TOT targets 1.3 million 3G service subscribers this year before the number rises to 7 million

by 2015. It expects revenue of Bt1.7 billion from the 3G service this year before rising to

Bt3.482 billion next year (the Nation, 10 May 2011)

The National Economic and Social Development Board has reportedly withheld approval for CAT

Telecom‟s 12-billion-baht, 14-year plan to deploy 3G wireless broadband service nationwide; and

NESDB source said that the agency is waiting for the Finance Ministry to say whether the project

complies with the 1992 Public-Private Joint Venture Act, as well as an opinion from the Information

and Communications Technology Ministry.