Parties Can Campaign on ‘Protecting’ Monarchy: Junta Legal Adviser

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6 March 2019, 17:16

A portrait of His Majesty the King stands at a September meeting of Action Coalition of Thailand. Photo: Action Coalition of Thailand Party

BANGKOK — Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said Wednesday that political parties can make protecting the monarchy a campaign issue but must refrain from accusing other parties of attacking it.

Wissanu, a junta legal adviser, was responding to remarks by Action Coalition for Thailand’s Suthep Thaugsuban, who has campaigned loudly that safeguarding the monarchy is among his party’s key policies.

Wissanu said that can be done as such sentiments are in the hearts of all Thai people and already the main policy of all parties. That was echoed today by the commission’s secretary-general.

Charungwit Phumma said that while protecting the monarchy was an acceptable ideology, election regulations state that no candidate or political party should use the monarchy for campaigning.

“If it’s just an ideology, and they don’t use the monarchy in their campaign, then that’s fine. We must look into individual cases, however,” Charungwit said in an interview.

Asked if parties that don’t explicitly proclaim such a policy could be tarred as against it, Charungwit said that question must be “considered anew.”

“It’s the reverse side of the issue,” said Charungwit, who had no immediate answer.

It’s a timely topic as legal threats pile up on the way to March 24. In one such case involving royal allegiance, The Future Forward Party today filed a libel suit against a man who had accused them of seeking to topple the monarchy.

Asked what the party thinks about using the monarchy as a campaign issue, party spokeswoman Pannika Wanich said they have no policy to use it as a political tool.

“The party has no policy to use the institution as a political tool. It also does not want other parties to use the institution as a tool for political attack,” Pannika said.

Temple Fests > Uni Tests, Pheu Thai Staffer Scolds Students

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JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI

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6 March 2019, 16:50

An ordination ceremony May 2017 in Chaiyaphum province.

PATHUM THANI — When drunk revelers stormed a school last week for asking them to turn down their ordination ceremony, it united the public against them. That happened again Wednesday when a campaign staffer ridiculed another group of students pleading for quiet.

A Pheu Thai Party member in northern metro Bangkok was forced to apologize days before the election for a nasty attack on university students unhappy about days of extremely loud music coming as they prepared for exams season.

“Who’s got a problem? PM me you motherfuckers. Don’t just bark from your dorms, assholes. Come talk to me face to face if you dare, kiddos. Don’t use exams as your excuse, fuckers!” Chanwut Puangrat wrote in reply to a student’s online complaint.

The students said that like last month’s incident, the noise came from a novice monk’s ordination ceremony.

“Say it if you’ve got problems. I’m a Chiang Rak local. Don’t you be so brash when you were born later. Know your place!” Chanwut wrote in another comment, referring to a street behind the campus where teen scooter gangs hold illegal street races.

Chanwut, it turned out, is on the team of Supachai Nopkhum, Pheu Thai’s candidate for Pathum Thani’s second electoral district. That led to searing criticism from voters who said they’d cast their ballots for someone else.

The students said they were preparing for exams this week and next, and that the music had been blasting dawn-to-dusk from a nearby temple behind the campus for days. They said it was so loud they could clearly hear every word in the lyrics, even from inside their dorm rooms.

After one student’s post with several equally unhappy comments went viral, several people including Chanwut rushed in to attack the students, many with crude language, and defend the ruckus.

“Don’t be so dramatic. Temples have been playing music like this for a long time,” user Ek Satrupai wrote. “Don’t forget that dorms and universities came after temples.”

“Move away if you can’t stand it. Ordination is to make merit for our parents. What do you faggots know about that? Have you ever thought about ordaining to pay your parents back?” user Kraingkrai Duangsanchao wrote.

The incident came just over a week after a group of men participating an ordination ceremony stormed a Bangkok temple school and assaulted students, teachers and guards. They were provoked by a request to be quiet because the campus was hosting university admission tests.

The public was incensed by the incident; dozens of suspects were arrested.

On Twitter, #SaveChiangRak shot to the top trending Thai hashtag overnight and remained No.4 as of Wednesday afternoon, with many comments from frustrated and amused students.

“Guys, if they invade Thammasat like they did with Wat Sing, I can only say they’ll be so exhausted. Which faculty or which dorm will they go to? Will they be confused with the directions? I’m so worried. Be careful of the monitor lizards too,” user @Booklormoon tweeted, referring to the vast campus.

“Okay bitch, I’m not disappointed to get to study at Thammasat. Our seniors fought in political conflicts. We fight teen moto gangsters,” user @Lordoftherad wrote.

Chanwut apologized Wednesday after receiving a major backlash for his comments.

“I’m sincerely sorry for using such harsh words with all the students. Please don’t put this on others, including the Pheu Thai Party and the candidate. They had nothing to do with this. Everything is my fault. I’m very sorry, from the bottom of my heart,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

Neither Supachai nor Pheu Thai has made a statement regarding the matter.

Embarrassed Muangthong United Turns in Bare-Assed Fan

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Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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6 March 2019, 16:20

BANGKOK — A football club in northern Bangkok was fined 30,000 baht Tuesday after it turned in a fan who bared his butt during a match last month.

The Thailand Football Federation said Muangthong United violated a disciplinary rule during the Feb. 24 match against Prachuap FC from the south. Sport regulations hold football teams responsible for any mischief or disruption caused by their fans.

Former Bangkok police commander Amnuay Nimmano, who’s in charge of the disciplinary committee, said the team was spared a higher fine because it identified the person behind the lewd act.

The person was charged with public indecency, Lt. Gen. Amnuay said, without identifying the suspect.

The same committee also fined Ratchaburi FC for a separate incident in which its coaches chased a referee into a restricted area to protest a call. The club was fined 20,000 baht.

Hello Kitty to Make Big Screen Debut

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Associated Press

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6 March 2019, 16:08

FILE - In this Oct. 30, 2014, file photo, Keith Nunez, left, takes pictures of his wife, Carolina, at the first-ever Hello Kitty fan convention, Hello Kitty Con, at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in Los Angeles. Photo: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

NEW YORK — Hello Kitty might not have a mouth but she’s got a movie deal.

Warner Bros.’ New Line Cinema announced Tuesday that it has acquired film rights to Hello Kitty from the Japanese corporation Sanrio. The 45-year-old iconic feline has never been turned into a movie despite its merchandising ubiquity.

New Line said it will quickly begin work on a script to put a film into production. Sanrio also granted film rights to other characters including Gudetama, My Melody and Little Twin Stars.

Warner Bros. has had success with toy adaptations before, including “The Lego Movie.” That film’s sequel, however, has underperformed at the box office since opening last month.

Hello Kitty presents potentially steeper challengers, though. She doesn’t talk or, for the most part, change facial expressions.

Little Changed Among Blood-Bound Thai Billionaires: Forbes

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Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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6 March 2019, 14:27

BANGKOK — Nearly a third of Thailand’s billionaires belong to a single clan, the latest ranking from Forbes shows.

While the roster of the world’s billionaires has shrunk due to market misfortune, Thailand’s 10-figure set, largely drawn from the ranks of monopoly-holding clans, have been mostly insulated and sit atop fortunes relatively unchanged. Nine are members of the Chearavanont family, which owns the nation’s largest conglomerate and have been regulars on the list.

The pool of 31 Thai billionaires identified by the magazine has been expanded by one newcomer from the real estate sector. Of the entire Forbes list of 2,153 billionaires – 55 fewer than in 2018 – almost half lost wealth. But the total net worth of Thailand’s billionaires increased USD$1.5 billion to $94.8 billion.

The two wealthiest Thais once again traded places among the world’s top 100. Charoen Pokphand’s Dhanin Chearavanont (75th) leapfrogged ThaiBev’s Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi (87th), whose wealth slid substantially.

Still, Dhanin is just one of the nine listees representing CP, one of the largest conglomerates in Asia. “Work is relaxing if you are not too serious,” the 79-year-old said in a quote published by Forbes. Though his wealth increased by only $300 million to $15.2 billion, he shot up from the 95th to 75th in the billionaire-mostly-boys club.

Dhanin’s brothers – who cannot agree on spelling of their family’s name – follow. CP executive chairman Sumet Jiaravanon, who holds a 13 percent company stake and is worth $4.5 billion, ranked 424th. Jaran and Montri Jiaravanont tied at No. 436, each with $4.4 billion, the same amount held by Sarath Ratanavadai, CEO of Gulf Energy Development.

Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, owner of ThaiBev and Big C, also made top 100, landing 87th on Forbes’ updated list of the world’s top 100 billionaires.

ThaiBev and Beer Chang magnate Charoen’s $14.5 billion fell by about $3.5 billion from last year. Look to see him retake the top spot – ThaiBev is expanding in Singapore, and Charoen’s son Panote is overseeing the construction of One Bangkok, a mixed-use complex next to Lumpini Park.

Missing for the first time in many years was KingPower CEO Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died in an October helicopter crash. The reins of the family’s assets – which include the duty-free monopoly and English Premier League football club Leicester City – passed to his son, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, who now ranks 290th at $5.9 billion. The family’s done well despite its tragedy – he debuts on the list $700 million above the spot occupied by his dad.

Few women have penetrated the highest strata of wealth. Those on the list come from the same families as the nation’s rich guys: The wealthiest Thai woman is Daopana Petaumpai, who together with her husband Chuchat and owns Muangthai Capital. They are worth $2.4 billion. Somporn Juangroongruangkit, mother of Future Forward Party founder Thanathorn Juangroonruangkit, ranked has $1.2 billion. She is the president of auto parts maker Thai Summit Group.

Thailand is home to two billionaire farangs: Harald Link, head of B. Grimm group who sits at 1168th with $2 billion and William Heinecke’s $1.9 billion. Heinecke, a Thai citizen, runs Minor Group, which includes hotels such as Anantara, Four Seasons and franchises for Swensens, Sizzler, Dairy Queen and Burger King.

Clocking in at 1281st and the 18th richest Thai is exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, whose wealth of $1.8 billion is unchanged from 2018.

The newest addition? Anant Asavabhokin at the rank of 1,941st. With a net worth of $1.1 billion, he owns almost a fourth of property development Land and Houses.

Chefs of Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park Win Globally Recognized Awards (Sponsored)

By

Khaosod English

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6 March 2019, 13:56

BANGKOK — Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park’s two talented chefs, Daniel Bucher and Alfred Merkel, earned winning titles from “Global Food & Beverage Associate Challenge”, under the topic of “The Coolest Thing You Cooked or Stirred in 2018”, hosted by Marriott International that awarded winning food and beverage creations by 18 culinary talents among contestants from 450 hotels all over the world.

Marriott International recently rolled out “Global Food & Beverage Associate Challenge”, under the topic of “The Coolest Thing You Cooked or Stirred in 2018” competition, inviting food and beverage teams from more than 450 hotels around the world to create culinary marvels fueled by art, creativity and storytelling to win over the judges. This year saw 18 chefs crowned winners from 450 contestants, and two of the winners are talents from Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park.

Daniel Bucher, Executive Senior Sous chef, is passion about growing his own green. “It’s like printing your own money”, he would say. Chef Daniel won the competition with “Hydroponic Garden | A Holistic Coffee Break”, where he builda coffee corner with hydroponic garden. While the guests savor their cups of coffee, they can also relax their minds with the sound of water flowing and pick the greens they like – from arugula, French mesclun, Asian mizuna and wasabi leaf – to make a fresh bowl of salad right on the spot. Chef Daniel believes that growing your own vegetable and on-sitefarming are the big trend in 2019.

As for Chef Alfred Merkel, Executive Pastry Chef, won the judges over with “Pastry Heaven – A Trip to A Heavenly Bakery”, a bakery in heaven. Upon entry, guests will be embraced by white, fluffy clouds and greeted with insatiable bakery aroma. A true secret world every child dreams of, another wow factor is the array of 22 sweet items Chef Alfred and his team create. Highlight is the soft chocolate cake “Willy Wonka” that spans 60cm in diameters and stands 120cm tall. “A small sweet slowly becomes less and less interesting. But the big thing makes you say WOW,” the chef said.

Experience the award-winning creations from “Global Food & Beverage Associate Challenge” by Chefs Daniel Bucher and Alfred Merkel at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park. For more information, call +66 (0) 2 059 5999 or email [email protected]

About Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park

The largest hotel in Bangkok and the first Marriott Marquis hotel in Asia Pacific, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park is a new landmark in heart of the Thai capital. The hotel offers extensive facilities, including 1,388 rooms and suites, over 5,000m² of function space across 37 venues, two swimming pools, 24-hour fitness center, the Quan Spa and a collection of restaurants and bars. Centrally located on Sukhumvit Road, in Bangkok’s vibrant business and entertainment district, the hotel is the perfect choice for all travelers to this pulsating city.

Thai Raksa Chart Leaders to Be Present For Judgment Day

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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6 March 2019, 13:33

The moment Thai Raksa Chart Party leader Preechapol Pongpanich presented the nomination of Ubolratana Mahidol as prime minister to the Election Commission on Feb. 8, 2019 in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — Executives of an embattled party allied to former leader Thaksin Shinawatra said Wednesday they will be present in court tomorrow to hear the verdict that will decide their fate.

Judges at the Constitutional Court are set to take the dais Thursday morning and rule whether the Thai Raksa Chart Party violated voting law by drawing the monarchy into politics by nominating a former princess. Party leaders said they are prepared for anything.

“No matter what the verdict is, the party will humbly accept it,” Vim Rungwattanachinda told reporters Tuesday. “We have done everything we can.”

Former minister Chaturon Chaisang also tweeted Wednesday that he will be there to hear the verdict.

If found guilty, the party will be disbanded and its executives barred from politics up to 10 years. Violations of election laws are typically punished by a ban of five years, but offenses involving the monarchy double the penalty.

More than 200 candidates fielded by Thai Raksa Chart will also be removed from the race, an event that would threaten its political alliance’s chance to win the March 24 election. Thai Raksa Chart is allied to Pheu Thai and several other parties loyal to former premier Thaksin.

The case stems from Thai Raksa Chart’s nomination last month of Ubolratana Mahidol to be its prime minister candidate. Although she formally gave up her royal ranks four decades ago, she has been living the life of a royal for the better part of two decades since her return to the kingdom.

His Majesty the King said as much hours after her nomination, when he decreed that Ubolratana is a royal princess under the Chakri dynasty and effectively barred her from running. The king also called the nomination “extremely inappropriate.”

Faced with the possible annihilation of his party, a Thai Raksa Chart member prayed to a statue of a local heroine in Korat to avert their doom.

“I beseech Grandma Mo to inspire the Constitutional Court tribunal to have mercy and decide not to disband Thai Raksa Chart tomorrow,” said Wattanachai Suebsiriboon, the party’s local candidate.

The politician added that were his wish granted, he would show his gratitude by hanging his campaign posters upside-down till election day.

Activist Ekachai Assaulted for the Sixth Time in One Year

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Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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6 March 2019, 13:30

BANGKOK — An inveterate anti-junta activist was beaten bloody by anonymous assailants Tuesday in the sixth such attack in just over a year.

Ekachai, 44, was leaving the Public Health Ministry after lodging a misconduct complaint against a royalist doctor and retired army general when the attack occurred at about 4pm. He said one of two men wearing helmets on a motorcycle called out his name and then struck him with a splintered piece of wood about half a dozen times, leaving his head bleeding.

“I didn’t think it would happen inside the ministry so I wasn’t as vigilant,” said Ekachai, who was taken to a nearby hospital in northern metro Bangkok where the ministry was located.

As with previous assaults, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack. No arrests have been made stemming from any of the prior assaults, which happened under similar circumstances.

He believes Tuesday’s attack wasn’t related to his business at the ministry but rather his long-running campaign against deputy junta leader Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan over his luxury watch scandal and army chief Gen. Apirat Kongsompong, who has left the door open to staging another coup. He has previously accused Prawit, the No. 2 junta leader, or those loyal to him of being behind the attacks.

“I don’t fight back because you don’t know what [weapons] they may also carry. So the best thing is to run,” said Ekachai, adding that there’s no point resisting unless one has a gun.

Ekachai, who served nearly three years in prison for defaming the royal family, said he will continue to oppose the junta – unarmed. He admits that his friends have begun avoiding traveling in public with him to join his activities.

“He and others said they are not disposed. Because I have been attacked many times. They are beginning to be scared,” Ekachai said.

Straight Outta Buriram Comes New 420 Weed Fest

By

Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

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6 March 2019, 13:07

A supporter shows his love at a Friday news conference for a cannabis festival next month in Buriram province.

BURIRAM — From the land of football and Formula 1 comes a new pro-cannabis festival featuring everything from music and art installations to educational workshops and vendors.

Set to run three days at the F1 speedway in Buriram, “Pan Ram” (“Buriram Species,” sort of) expects to draw more than 20,000 daily attendees to celebrate cannabis culture at the dawn of the legalization age.

Behind the event is former political powerbroker Newin Chidchob, the man revered locally for delivering a world-class football stadium and race circuit to what had been a neglected and impoverished rural province. Several years into retirement from politics, 60-year-old Newin, now president of Buriram United FC, is throwing the weed party along with several pro-marijuana advocates. Not coincidentally, promotion of cannabis as a cash crop is one of the central policies of the party he founded, Bhumjaithai.

Read: High Stakes: Thai Party Plants Seeds for Pot Revolution

At a Friday press conference at The Street Ratchada in Bangkok to talk about the fest, Newin showed up with allies such as Buriram Gov. Theerawat Wutthikun and Prapat Panyachatrak, chairman of National Farmers Council.

The festival, a first for the northeastern region, aims to promote awareness and understanding of the plant which has been illegal since the Narcotics Act of 1979.

“Marijuana is like a genie kept in the lamp a long time, and now it’s out,” Prapat said. “It’s our chance now to make use of it.”

More than a mind-altering drug, Newin said he regards marijuana as a “nation-altering plant,” given that legalization will lead to saving lives and creating economic value.

Bhumjaithai has campaigned on allowing every household to grow six marijuana plants which could be sold to authorized agencies, something it says would generate over 420,000 baht per year per family.

48397901 1311051792369587 7267071255944101888 n — Newin Chidchob sports his Party Party T-shirt making light of his life after national politics. Photo: Uncle Newin / Facebook

“If we can push for this to make our people’s lives a little better, why not do it?” Newin said.

Heading the project is his daughter, Chidchanok “Nan” Chidchob. She said the three-day festival will welcome cannabis activists to lead talks and Rangsit University professors to host educational workshops on medical marijuana.

Nan said Tuesday that the event’s goal is to push for marijuana liberation and give everyone a “full-immersion experience” that covers all of marijuana’s benefits – economic, medical and recreational.

Well-known hip-hop acts and rappers such as Joey Boy, Thaitanium and Twopee will be those among music playing three stages alongside art installations, food stalls and handcraft vendors popping up in the open-air venue.

Pan Ram will run April 19-21 at the Chang International Circuit. The Formula 1 track is located in Buriram city, about 400 kilometers from Bangkok.

Tickets are 420 baht per day, and 1,000 baht for all three days. More details will be announced at a later date.

Those bringing valid medical certificates for one of the conditions that can now be legally treated with cannabis can enter free of charge.

Pan Ram is Thailand’s second pro-cannabis festival.

In Bangkok, advocacy group Highland is hosting its fifth such event on the same day. The 5th Thailand 420 will take place on April 20 at Runway 3119, a night market near Suvarnabhumi International Airport in the capital’s Lat Krabang district.

As marijuana decriminalization spreads worldwide, April 20 or Weed Day has become celebrated globally with events embracing cannabis culture.

Sorry We’re Closed! Election Commission Leaves Thailand on Eve of Vote

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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6 March 2019, 12:34

A file photo of an Election Commission news conference. Image: Election Commission of Thailand’s PR division / Facebook

BANGKOK — Grievances over campaign malpractice, no matter how urgent, will have to hold till next week because nearly all members of the Election Commission are traveling overseas.

Media reports on Wednesday said six of the seven commissions will return to Thailand on Sunday, and will meet Monday to sift through the backlog of accumulated complaints. By law, the agency cannot meet if it lacks a quorum of five members are present.

Two members are in the United Kingdom, two in the United States and two in Germany. Chairman Itthiporn Boonprakong is scheduled to fly to Singapore on Friday.

The agency said the trips are necessary, work-related visits to facilitate overseas voting and study the voting mechanisms of other countries.

Their absence comes at a time their adjudication is in high demand. It is unclear how many complaints are in the hopper, but the agency said it had received more than 200 cases as of late February. The number was so staggering that sec-gen Charungwit Phumma threatened to file criminal charges over any bogus petitions.

Prior to their departures, the commissioners were set to deliberate on a number of key challenges and complaints, such as whether junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha can be a candidate for the premiership due to his status as government leader.

Although the law allows meetings to take place via video conference, the fact that the members are traveling in different time zones makes doing so impossible, a source in the commission said.

The combined cost of the trips is estimated to be about 12 million baht, the commission said.

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