Opinion: Future Forward Dragged Down by the Present

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10 November 2018, 10:00

Future Forward Party Founding members Thanatorn Juangroongruangkit, center right, and Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, center left, in May during a party meeting. Photo: Matichon

How far will a new progressive political party go to attract voters? And to what extent is it willing to compromise its anti-junta stance?

The Future Forward Party headed by billionaire Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit was caught in the crossfire after exiled junta critic Pavin Chachavalpongpun, based in Kyoto, Japan, criticized the leader of a popular girl group Monday.

Pavin blasted BNK48’s Cherprang Areekul for supporting the military regime by helping promote its programs.

(In full disclosure, Thanathorn was a board member of Matichon Group, the parent company of Khaosod English, before he entered politics.)

It got to the point where the vitriol Pavin hurled against Cherprang ignited an anti-Pavin wave of criticism against Future Forward due to perceptions he is closely associated with the party. The academic has previously promoted Thanathorn on his influential social media channels and dressed in the party’s orange-colored apparel.

By Tuesday, Chris Potranandana, another party founder, lashed out at Pavin for damaging the party, saying he “lacks maturity.” He also stressed the academic had not affiliation with the party.

It led Pavin to declare that his “honeymoon” with the party was over, as he began criticizing and questioning its democratic credentials.

By Wednesday morning, the party stayed quiet, so I asked spokeswoman Pannika Wanich about the kerfuffle.

She played it safe, saying that while Chris’ opinion didn’t represent the party, “artists” including Cherprang “should have the freedom to express their political stance. If they truly believe in autocracy, they should have the right to support the military government.”

Some found the spokeswoman’s response astute; others saw it as a lame attempt to win votes from Cherprang fans.

An estimated 6 million Thais will be eligible to vote for their first time come February – this is not a small constituency – and BNK48 is popular with young men.

At the level of democratic principles, it’s ironic that a party which claims to oppose military rule is unwilling to reprimand people like Cherprang who publicly promote it. On the other hand, it’s likely a pragmatic calculation to win as many young voters as possible.

It seems they can’t please everyone, and some of the party’s democratic credibility has been lost as the feud continues.

This fiasco shows how even the pro-democracy camp can be narrow-minded, verbally abusive and perceive things as a zero-sum game.

For being gay, Pavin has been verbally abused and called a freak by some Future Forward Party supporters. They make a mockery of the party’s claim to support the advancement of LGBT rights by engaging in gay-bashing verbal orgies on social media. Pavin, on the other hand, responds with vitriol for his opponents, making civil debate seem impossible.

Party diehard Chinnawat Chankrachang wrote online Wednesday to urge “Future Forward People” to defend the party on social media.

My fear is that a party cult of Future Forwardism – where Thanathorn is at the apex – is fast developing, and tolerance for criticism of it is diminishing. This is not the path to build a democratic culture.

Tired of hearing the other side of the debate, Chinnawat also said that “whoever criticizes Future Forward [on Facebook] please block me. I am fed up with those who slander the party.”

How ironic that Pavin does something similar. For awhile, he would not allow non-Facebook friends to comment on his posts. He must know he’s a target of hate speech from the pro-junta camp, too.

This latest drama shows that the days when some Thais could engage in civil discourse and agree to disagree are indeed long gone, even for some of those claiming to fight for freedom and democracy.

Thailand’s future cannot really go forward if the ugly weight of its present is unaddressed.

Thailand Rushes Law Allowing Medical Use of All Class 5 Drugs

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JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI

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9 November 2018, 16:55

A ranger stands amid a large strand of cannabis to be confiscated Oct. 8 in Phetchaburi province.

BANGKOK — A stopgap measure to rush legalization of medical marijuana was set aside Friday as lawmakers found a way to complete their broader rewrite of the Narcotics Act in time to get it before the cabinet as soon as next week.

Instead of carving out an exception to reclassify cannabis, the interim legislature opted to go back to its original plan of redefining Class 5 drugs to permit medical use. Pending a legal review, they hope to forward it to the interim cabinet by Tuesday.

The special committee overseeing the decriminalization effort today signed onto pausing the reclassification of non-narcotic “CBD” cannabis extracts as it might run afoul of the current narcotics law. A draft of the new law was submitted to the Health Ministry today for review.

Food and Drug Administration chief Tares Krassanairawiwong said they will also consult with the Council of State whether the reclassification of cannabis and cannabinoids, the latter of which has medical value but no psychoactive properties, is possible under the current law.

“We’re pushing both ways forward,” he said. “We’ll use whichever measure that can be done first.”

National Legislative Assembly member Somchai Sawangkarn today revealed the key changes to the Narcotics Act before submitting it to the Health Ministry.

All Class 5 drugs – marijuana and kratom – would be usable for medical and research purposes, with cultivation and import allowed “in the case of necessity.” Possession would be permitted in limited quantities for patients with prescriptions, and for emergency treatment on ships, planes or other modes of transportation.

Somchai said cultivation and experimentation of Class 5 drugs would be controlled by the Narcotics Control Board.

Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said his ministry agreed with the main thrust and will review the details before endorsing it to the cabinet. Justice Minister Prajin Juntong said that could happen as early as Tuesday.

Tares said the cabinet could pass the law within a month after it is taken up.

In the meantime, Tares said the FDA will draft several pieces of subordinate legislation to regulate conditions and guidelines of use, which will cover both the extracts and plants, to support the main law. They aim to enact them at the same time.

He said Thai traditional medicine practitioners will also be allowed to treat patients with it.

Correction: A previous version of this article indicated medical use of opium would also be allowed as it was also a Category 5 drug. In fact it is Category 2 and such uses are already allowed.

Hard Final Push on Medical Weed Pledged by Officials

Vietnam and Cuba Sign Trade Agreement, Pledge to Deepen Ties

By

Associated Press

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9 November 2018, 15:28

Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong, right, shakes hands Friday with his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel in in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: Tri Dung / Associated Press

HANOI — The leaders of Vietnam and Cuba on Friday pledged to deepen relations between two of the world’s few remaining communist countries.

President Nguyen Phu Trong and his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel witnessed the signing of trade and finance agreements after an hourlong talk behind closed doors in Hanoi.

Speaking at a joint news conference, Trong, who is also the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party, said “Vietnam and Cuba will continue close and comprehensive cooperation … and deepen exemplary fraternal relations.”

Trong said he and the Cuban president discussed measures to deepen ties in defense, security and diplomacy and enhance cooperation in agriculture, biotechnology, the pharmaceutical sector, medicine, education, science and people-to-people exchanges.

Diaz-Canel said all the Cubans had great admiration for Vietnam’s struggles for independence and that his and Trong’s visit to Cuba in March will contribute to strengthening the countries’ relations.

“We also expressed our desire to continue to share experiences of building socialism in each country,” Diaz-Canel said.

He thanked Vietnam for its support in efforts to lift the U.S economic embargo on the island country. Last week, the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution condemning the embargo on Cuba and rejected proposed U.S. amendments strongly criticizing the lack of human rights in Cuba.

The Cuban president is on a three-day visit to Vietnam as part of his first international tour since taking office in April. He has already visited Russia, North Korea and China and will visit Laos after Vietnam.

Diaz-Canel replaced Raul Castro in April in a historic changing of the guard in Cuba, becoming the first non-Castro head of state in the country since the revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959.

Asian Stock Markets Sink After Wall Street Rally Fades

By

Associated Press

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9 November 2018, 14:57

An investor walks in front of private stock trading boards in November at a private stock market gallery in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: Yam G-Jun / Associated Press

BEIJING — Asian stock markets fell Friday after a post-election Wall Street rally faded and the U.S. Federal Reserve suggested it will keep raising interest rates.

Keeping Score

Thailand’s SET on Friday afternoon was trading at 1,670.57, a 0.7 percent drop. The Shanghai Composite Index lost 1.3 percent to 2,614.37 and Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 retreated 0.8 percent to 22,310.16. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 2.4 percent to 25,753.23 and Sydney’s S&P-ASX 200 declined 0.4 percent to 5,903.20. Seoul’s Kospi gave up 0.2 percent to 2,087.32 and India’s Sensex was off 34 points at 35,205.69. New Zealand and Malaysia advanced while Taiwan and other Southeast Asian markets retreated.

Wall Street

Coming off the previous day’s surge, stocks slipped as a ninth straight decline in oil prices hurt energy companies. Banks gained after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged. The Standard & Poor’s 500 shed 0.3 percent to 2,806.83 after it jumped 2.1 percent Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up 10.92 points to 26,191.22. The Nasdaq composite dipped 0.5 percent to 7,530.88.

Fed Watch

The U.S. central bank left interest rates unchanged but suggested it plans to keep raising them in response to the strong economy. The Fed has raised its key rate eight times since late 2015 and is expected to do so again in December, with several more increases to follow.

Analyst’s Comment

“The sense that the Fed is well on track to continue tightening policy de-railed the post mid-term relief rally in the markets,” said Vishnu Varathan of Mizuho Bank in a report. The Fed cited a stronger job market and omitted mention of tighter financial conditions, “lowering the bar” for a December rate hike, said Varathan.

Energy

Benchmark U.S. crude lost 14 cents per barrel to USD$60.53 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract plunged $1 the previous session to $60.67. Brent crude, used to price international oils, gained 3 cents to $70.68 in London. It dropped $1.42 on

Currency

The dollar declined to 113.86 yen from Thursday’s 114.08 yen. The euro weakened to $1.1357 from $1.1365.

Story: Joe McDonald

Militant Shot in Attack on Indonesia Police

By

Associated Press

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9 November 2018, 14:46

Indonesian sailors participate in a mass casualty training scenario as part of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) in 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: Joshua T. Rodriguez / Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA — Indonesian police say a suspected Islamic militant’s attack on a police station in Jakarta has been thwarted by an officer who shot the man in the hand.

Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono says the knife and machete-wielding man repeatedly shouted “God is Great” as he attacked officers at the station in Jakarta’s north early Friday.

One police officer suffered light injuries to his arm and another shot the attacker’s hand, forcing him to drop the machete.

Police are a frequent target of attacks by militants in Indonesia, who see them as representing the power of the secular government that they want replaced by an Islamic state.

HIV+ Army Sgt. May Have Raped Hundreds: Police

By

JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI

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9 November 2018, 13:18

Headquarters of the 3rd Cavalry Division in Khon Kaen province. Photo: 3rd Cavalry Division / Facebook

KHON KAEN — Hundreds of boys may have been victimized by an HIV-infected soldier now under arrest in Khon Kaen province, according to a police colonel investigating the case.

Col. Athiwit Kamolrat of the anti-trafficking force said Friday they have identified 28 potential victims of 43-year-old Sgt. Maj. Chakkrit Komsing, who so far has been accused of blackmailing and raping dozens of teenage boys.

He said there could be as many as 150 victims in Bangkok and 76 in several northeastern provinces, based on the suspect’s social media records. Athiwit said investigators are working to validate whether the content is authentic, as some of it may have been fabricated.

Read: HIV-Infected Soldier Accused of Raping Scores of Teenagers

Investigators have questioned the 14-year-old victim whose accusation led to Chakkrit’s arrest. Athiwit said a team of child protection experts have begun approaching other identified potential victims.

“We’re worried about them. We believe that all boys in Khon Kaen would’ve learned about the case by now,” he said. “Experts will talk to them one by one to see if they’ve had any relations with the accused or not.”

Police yesterday said Chakkrit, who’s been relieved of duty after eight months assigned to the 3rd Cavalry Division at the Prem Tinsulanonda Military Fort, left a trail of potential evidence on social media of abuse of up to 75 boys aged 13 to 18.

Chakkrit has been charged with six counts including raping minors and blackmail. Athiwit said Chakkrit has denied all allegations.

Maj. Gen. Surachate Hakparn said Chakkrit tested positive for HIV in 2009 and has been receiving treatment since 2015. Surachate said he’s believed to have committed similar crimes in many provinces, including when he was posted to Bangkok.

Both police and the army, through a spokeswoman, said today that they still don’t have information about how long Chakkrit had been enlisted and where else he has been assigned.

According to police, the victim said Chakkrit posed as a young student in fake social media profiles, saying he would give him 5,000 baht a month and buy him a mobile phone if he agreed to have a relationship with him.

The victim told police that Chakkrit used explicit photos and videos they exchanged online for blackmail, forcing him to meet and then raping him multiple times in a car.

Police also said they found a camera installed inside the car, suggesting he might have filmed the assaults to use for further blackmail.

Athiwit said victims and their parents who wish to file charges can now do so at the Nampong Police Station, which is about 40 kilometers from Khon Kaen City.

After Delay, Democrats to Settle Leadership Question Tonight

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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9 November 2018, 12:49

Democrat Party leadership election contenders Warong Dechgitvigrom, Abhisit Vejjajiva and Alongkorn Pollabutr pose for photos on Oct. 8, 2018.

Saturday 12:21pm update: Party spokeswoman Kanjana Dhokmai said party members were in a meeting and would announce the results within Saturday.

Update: The party announced Friday evening it plans to announce the results at 10am on Saturday.

BANGKOK — A three-way contest for the Democrat Party’s top post is expected to conclude Friday evening, and party officials say preliminary results could be available as early as tonight.

The race, marked by fierce campaigns and delayed by technical mishaps, is expected to chart the direction of Thailand’s oldest and largest political party. Supporters of the incumbent, Abhisit Vejjajiva, are hoping he will fend off challenges from those seeking a break from the past.

Party members were asked to choose between Abhisit, Warong Dechgitvigrom and Alongkorn Pollabutr.

Promising to usher in “clean politics,” Alongkorn said that if chosen to lead the party, he would not support a prime minister who wasn’t elected to the parliament, a path to power expected to be pursued by junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Warong said he would oppose working with parties that engage in corruption or insult the monarchy, a seeming rebuke of calls for the party to throw in with the rival Pheu Thai Party to break the military’s grip on power.

Party members in the northeast and south cast votes Monday. Polls in the north, central and capital regions set for Nov. 1 were delayed until Friday due to an eight-day technical problem.

Party officials blamed glitches in their voting machines, which were somehow set to the British time zone where they were made. The system also crashed repeatedly on Monday in some voting districts.

Early results are expected within hours, but an official tally will have to wait till Saturday. The party will convene its assembly on Sunday to endorse the results.

Media pundits and analysts expect a smooth victory for Abhisit – a seasoned politico who in 2008 became the first Democrat prime minister in nearly a decade.

When a reporter asked Alongkorn on Thursday what he felt about the imminent showdown, he sighed before giving a reply.

“I was away from politics for four years,” said Alongkorn, who served in the junta’s reform steering assembly. “And I only had three weeks to campaign.”

Netflix Announces 2 Original Thai Series

By

Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

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9 November 2018, 12:39

Thai soap opera ‘Blood and Treasure’ available on Netflix

BANGKOK — Thai teens are stranded in a sci-fi island fantasy while a supernatural thriller unfolds in northern Thailand in the first two Thai-language series produced by Netflix.

“The Stranded” and “Shimmers” were announced Thursday by Netflix in Singapore as two entries in a line of 17 Asian original productions being brought to the service by the California-based streaming giant.

Directed by Sophon Sakdaphisit, “The Stranded” follows dozens of teens fending for themselves at their elite island school after a devastating tsunami hits the Andaman Sea. Mysterious events occur and the students must find a way off the island – or die.

Sophon is best known for producing Thai horror films such as “Ladda Land,” inspired by a real-life story about a haunted Chiang Mai home, and 2004’s “Shutter,” about the phenomenon of spirit photography.

“The Shimmers” is a joint effort by Wisit Sasanatieng and Sitsiri Mongkolsiri. The horror film is set in a remote school in the north of Thailand where five students are haunted by their past demons.

Release dates for the two shows have yet to be announced.

Netflix originally offered no Thai-language programming when it launched in Thailand in January 2016. Customers outside the United States now account for over half of all memberships, and the company has been investing heavily in producing original content in different markets.

Online stats firm Statista projects the company will have more than 200,000 subscribers in Thailand by the end of 2018. Monthly subscriptions range from 280 baht to 420 baht.

Its biggest competitor, Iflix, launched several months earlier with a raft of programming available in several regional languages. It’s become a crowded market for on-demand, streaming services with the addition of Hollywood TV and Primetime.

Related stories:

Netflix Now Speaks (Some) Thai

Netflix Finally Enters Thailand

Imelda Marcos Convicted of Graft, Court Orders Her Arrest

By

Associated Press

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9 November 2018, 12:13

US President Lyndon B. Johnson and Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos dance in 1966 in an unspecified location. Photo: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum / Wikimedia Commons

MANILA — A Philippine court found former first lady Imelda Marcos guilty of graft and ordered her arrest Friday in a rare conviction among many corruption cases that she’s likely to appeal to avoid jail and losing her seat in Congress.

The special anti-graft Sandiganbayan court sentenced Marcos, 89, to serve 6 to 11 years in prison for each of the seven counts of violating an anti-corruption law when she illegally funneled about USD$200 million to Swiss foundations in the 1970s.

Neither Marcos nor anyone representing her attended Friday’s court hearing and no one issued any reaction on her behalf.

The court disqualified Marcos from holding public office, but she can remain a member of the powerful House of Representatives while appealing the decision.

Imelda Marcos’s husband, former President Ferdinand Marcos, was ousted by an army-backed “people power” revolt in 1986. He died in 1989.

Chula Alleges Student ‘Impersonator’ Broke 3 Laws

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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9 November 2018, 11:59

Boy Sakol — Sakol “Boy” Aiemsaard. Photo: Tariris Nrohtas / Facebook

BANGKOK — Police are weighing criminal charges against a man accused of passing himself off as an elite university student after the school filed a complaint to the authorities.

A Chulalongkorn University legal representative alleged to police Thursday that Sakol “Boy” Aiemsaard broke three laws: impersonating a state university student by wearing its uniform, violating the Computer Crime Act by uploading false information online and document fraud.

Lt. Preecha Khemsiri of Pathum Wan police said Friday that police are investigating the case to see if Sakol may be charged. He first came to public attention in September when he was accused of falsely claiming to be enrolled as a Chula economics student.

He denies all accusations of wrongdoing, explaining that the venom directed against him is the result of a misunderstanding.

Ariya Tongpeerapan, the university legal rep, said that Sakol broke the law by wearing a university uniform in photographs posted to his now-private Instagram account, leading others to believe he was a student and damaging the university’s reputation.

Sakol also allegedly claimed to be an enrolled student when he signed up to join the school’s spirit team. Ariya said that amounted to fraud.

Earlier this month, Sakol told reporters he had never falsely implied that he was a Chula student. He filed counter-complaints against two Burapha University students who went public with allegations Sakol had stolen class funds.

Chula ‘Student’ Exposed for Years of False Enrollment Claims

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