Abu Sayyaf Claims to Have Kidnapped German, Killed Woman

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7 November 2016, 10:52

ISIS flag, adapted by Abu Sayyaf for personal use. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

MANILA — The Philippine military is trying to verify a claim by Abu Sayyaf militants that they have kidnapped a German man from a yacht and shot and killed his girlfriend in the southern Philippines, a military spokesman said Monday.

Regional military spokesman Maj. Filemon Tan said Abu Sayyaf spokesman Muamar Askali had claimed the militants kidnapped Juegen Kantner and killed his companion while the couple were cruising off neighboring Malaysia.

It’s not clear why the woman was purportedly killed but it’s possible she may have fought back or tried to escape, Tan and another military official said.

Villagers reported finding a dead woman lying beside a shotgun on board a blue yacht with the German flag and marked “Rock All” off Laparan Island in Sulu province, Tan said. The southern province is where the ransom-seeking militants hold their hostages in tropical jungle encampments.

Marines were deployed to verify the villagers’ report and have been ordered “to be careful in approaching the vessel because it might be rigged with explosives.”

If the attack on the couple is confirmed, it would be the latest in a wave of attacks at sea by the Abu Sayyaf and allied gunmen despite efforts by the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia to jointly shore up security in their busy sea border, where Indonesians and Malaysians have been kidnapped from tugboats and fishing boats in recent months.

The kidnappings have continued despite one of the largest military offensives against the Abu Sayyaf mainly in Sulu and the nearby island province of Basilan that involves more than 6,000 troops, navy gunboats and rocket-firing air force aircraft.

Without a known foreign source of funds, the Abu Sayyaf has survived mostly on ransom kidnappings, extortion and other acts of banditry.

A confidential Philippine government threat assessment report seen by The Associated Press said the militants have pocketed at least 353 million pesos ($7.3 million) from ransom kidnappings in the first six months of the year and have turned to abductions of foreign tugboat crewmen as military offensives restricted their mobility.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who took office in June, has ordered troops to destroy Abu Sayyaf, known for its brutality and ties to some foreign militants, and he has ruled out the possibility of any peace talks with them. He has pursued talks with two other larger Muslim insurgent groups.

Duterte intends to discuss with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak possible solutions to end the Abu Sayyaf kidnapping menace in the region when he makes an overnight visit to Malaysia starting on Wednesday.

The government report said the Abu Sayyaf had 481 fighters with 438 firearms in the first half of the year but the military reported last week that it had killed 70 of the militants and captured 32 others since July.

At least 28 government troops have died and nearly 100 others have been wounded in the military assaults in Basilan and Sulu, a Muslim province about 590 miles (950 kilometers) south of Manila.

Story: Jim Gomez

FBI Chief: No Charges for Clinton After New Emails Reviewed

By

Associated Press

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7 November 2016, 10:37

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton holds a rally in November in Wilton Manors, Florida. Photo: Patrick Farrell / Miami Herald / Associated Press

WASHINGTON — FBI Director James Comey told Congress in a letter sent Sunday that a review of newly discovered Hillary Clinton emails has “not changed our conclusions” from earlier this year that she should not face charges.

Sent just two days before Election Day, the letter appeared to resolve any lingering ambiguity over the prospect that the Democratic presidential nominee could yet face a criminal indictment over her use of a private email sever as secretary of state.

“Based on our review, we have not changed our conclusions that we expressed in July with respect to Secretary Clinton,” Comey wrote to congressional leaders, less than two weeks after first telling them about a cache of newly found emails that investigators thought might be pertinent to their investigation.

But the letter left unresolved other questions, including the content and number of new emails, and how many of the messages investigators reviewed were duplicates of emails they had already seen.

“The growing number of unanswered questions demand explanations,” Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.

A senior law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal decision-making, said the letter was intended to reflect a conclusion to the email review and not merely a status update.

The letter also drew fresh criticism from lawmakers who said the new email review, announced in a vague letter to Congress on Oct. 28, shouldn’t have been made public so close to the election and created unnecessary suspicion.

“Today’s letter makes Director Comey’s actions nine days ago even more troubling. There’s no doubt that it created a false impression about the nature of the agency’s inquiry,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Clinton was being protected by a “rigged system” and pronounced her “guilty,” notwithstanding the FBI’s conclusion.

The FBI had been under pressure to reveal additional details about its new email review following Comey’s abrupt disclosure on Oct. 28 that the bureau had discovered emails that were potentially relevant to the Clinton investigation.

The emails were found on the computer of Anthony Weiner, the disgraced congressman and estranged husband of Clinton aide Huma Abedin. Weiner is under investigation by federal authorities for online communications he had with a 15-year-old girl.

Upon discovering emails thought to be potentially pertinent to the Clinton email investigation, Comey advised Congress that investigators would review the messages to see whether they were classified. The FBI subsequently obtained a warrant to begin the process of going through the emails.

That disclosure, made over the objections of the Justice Department, roiled the presidential race in its final days and revived an issue that the Clinton campaign thought had ended over the summer when the investigation closed without charges.

In July, the FBI chief chastised Clinton for her use of a private mail server but said the bureau would not recommend criminal charges against the Democratic presidential nominee or her aides. The Justice Department accepted that recommendation.

In his letter to Congress on Sunday, Comey said the FBI had reviewed all new emails to and from Clinton and that nothing had changed its July conclusion. But the letter did not address how the messages wound up on Weiner’s computer and what, if anything, the announcement means for Abedin.

Abedin’s attorney, Karen Dunn, has said Abedin learned from media reports about the possibility that her emails had been found on a laptop belonging to Weiner.

Comey has already said that investigators found classified emails on Clinton’s server, and that although Clinton and her aides had been “extremely careless” in their handling of classified information, there was no evidence that anyone had willfully broken the law.

The new email review did not automatically increase the chances that anyone was in renewed danger of criminal prosecution, even if additional classified messages were found.

“We were always confident nothing would cause the July decision to be revisited. Now Director Comey has confirmed it,” Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said Sunday on Twitter.

Story: Eric Tucker

Monday Morning Mess as Subway Shuts Down

By

Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

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7 November 2016, 10:36

BANGKOK — Monday got off to an unpleasant start for many commuters as the MRT subway system was suspended for over two hours.

MRT officials announced just before 8am that service would be disrupted for 20 minutes. The transit system then announced again about 15 minutes later that it would be extended another 20 minutes, before saying it would take another half hour at about 9:30am.

MRT Hua Lamphong and MRT Samyan were closed at about 8:30am due to “operational difficulties.”

Service reportedly resumed after 10am. Commuters were advised to change trains at MRT Rama 9 and MRT Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

Many passengers reportedly remain stuck at stations.

https://twitter.com/jtttsu/status/795441525622607872

จาก MRTบางซื่อ 8.00น.ถึงส.พระรามเก้า 8.35น.สถานการณ์ยังไม่ดีขึ้น คนล้นสถานี #ภาพMRT พระรามเก้าขณะออกจากขบวนรถ และ ผดส.ขณะรอรถ @js100radio pic.twitter.com/pjSZPsTGGP

— Dong Sainoi (@donnydnine) November 7, 2016

Enraged Driver Punches, Forces Motorcyclist to Prostrate at Luxury Car

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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6 November 2016, 23:59

BANGKOK — Footage spread Sunday of a driver who was caught on video raging and subsequently punching a motorcyclist who lightly shoved his vehicle, after the man allegedly tried to escape, and forcing him to prostrate to his car.

The video, posted at 2pm spread on a Facebook page called “If you wanna be famous, we can arrange it” (Yak Dang Diew Jad Hai) had been shared over 70,000 times by 10pm and liked more than 58,000 times. Police said the incident took place Friday.

In the one-minute video, the enraged driver, Acharanat “Nott” Ariyaritwikol, 28, a television host with GMM TV, was seen in the video clip dragging the man from across Charoen Krung Road near Taksin Bridge. The man was dragged to the yellow Mini Countryman, a car which costs THB 1.8 million baht.

The motorcyclist, Kittisak Singto, 25, a clerk at the Revenue Department, looked scared as the car owner asked why he hit him and fled. Acharanat grabs Kittisak by his jacket. After punching Kittisak three times, a bystander on the street asks why Acharanat was attacking the man instead of calling the police. The motorcyclist apologized after being punched the first time, which didn’t deter Acharanat from continuing the beating.

“Don’t speak bro, he hit and run,” Acharanat said to the bystander, as his friend repeated the same answer.

Toward the end of the video, the driver forced Kittisak to prostrate to his shiny luxurious car.

“Prostrate to my car!” Acharanat said.

Col. Pongsak Sab-laor, head of Yannawa police told Khaosod at 7:35pm on Sunday that the two had met Friday at the police station and that an agreement had been reached not to press charges. No police record was filed on that day.

Suthira Hongthong, 53, and Sukanya Singto, 29, the mother and sister of Kittisak filed a police complaint against Acharanat for assault at 7pm on Sunday. Acharanat went to see police at 7:50pm but refused to speak to the press.

GMM TV said Sunday that a press conference by Acharanat would take place at his office 2pm on Monday.

Get Schooled in Digital DJing at Bangkok’s In Ear Beat

By

Mongkorn Timkul, Correspondent

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6 November 2016, 15:15

Before the millennium, DJs were limited in terms of equipment, with the standard two turntables and a mixer being the norm. In the new millennium, the rise of more advanced technology brought tools to be even more creative with mixing.

Notes from the Underground - Mongkorn 'DJ Dragon' Timkul In today’s scene the standard Technics turntables and DJ mixer have given way to software and hardware. Names like Pioneer, Serato, Traktor and Ableton are brands that make gear essential to DJs.

One of Bangkok’s leading centers for educating aspiring DJs in with this technology is In Ear Beat, which specializes teaching the in-and-outs of digital DJing and electronic music production.

At the helm is 32-year-old Tossawat “Nup” Chotivong, the center’s enterprising and quick witted owner. His career began in 2008 when he was in New York to attend university.

“I was there to study my bachelors degree but I changed my mind and decided that I wanted to study what I loved the most which is music,” he said.

After graduating in 2011 he came back to Thailand and found that many of the Bangkok’s schools were not accessible to most people because of their high costs. Realizing that he could make his mark in the scene he explained:

“Back in those days schools that taught electronic music production and DJing were quite expensive and I started In Ear Beat to make a school that was affordable to all people,” Nup said.

“I would say five years ago electronic music wasn’t as popular as it is today, especially now with the whole EDM thing blowing up and all, I wanted to start my own DJ course but doing it differently from others schools by focusing more on the digital DJ side of things, with controllers and different computer programs,” Nup added.

Tossawat 'Nup' Chotivong — Tossawat ‘Nup’ Chotivong

On a Monday afternoon I had the chance to sit in on the school’s Digital DJ class. The classroom is aligned with computer screens and different types of gear. During this class I was introduced to the versatility of Ableton, a digital audio workstation that is popular amongst producers and DJs.

Nup explained that the appeal to the more technological approach to mixing beats is because “kids today grow up using iPads and iPhones so when it comes to computers they can relate to this more.”

It was Peter Parker’s uncle Ben that once said “with great power comes great responsibility.” With today’s advanced technology some schools of thought would argue that it has made it easy for people to perform without actually having any real skills. The dreaded “sync button” is something purists tend to hate on because of its beat matching abilities. According to Nup it’s something that can be used in a creative way.

“Software like Traktor is so powerful that a DJ can mix up to four tracks at the same time. With that you can arrange and layer your beats any way you want. It’s a new approach to DJing and there’s a lot of creative things you can do with it,” Nup said.

In Ear Beat is open 11am to 8pm every day except Friday and is located near BTS Ari.

Opposition Predicts Tough Year for Human Rights

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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6 November 2016, 14:02

Soldiers and police shutdown a center to monitor referendum fraud organized by the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) in June this year. Photo: Matichon

BANGKOK — Critics and opponents of the military regime agree it will be more difficult to make any moves during the 11 months of mourning to come but differ on how far the junta will go to keep its opponents in line.

With social conditions ripe for suppressing dissent, speculation on what tools it would employ ranges from soft power and social pressure to a return to arrests and criminal charges for those who openly oppose its rule.

Abhinya Sawatvarakorn, a postgraduate student activist and a member of the League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy, predicts the former.

“I think the regime will from now on resort to the use of soft power instead of naked power. They can coerce people to do things without having to force people,” said Abhinya, citing the fact she dare not wear a red dress outside during the mourning period for King Bhumibol.“I am being forced without being directly forced to wear black.”

Once targeted by ultra-royalists and the media for allegedly defaming the monarchy as a high school student in 2009, Abhinya said freedoms have diminished since witch-hunting began after the king’s death.

“Those who support the junta appear to have more legitimacy in attacking those who disagree with them,” she said. But she doesn’t think the junta will resort to tactics such as sending police to surround and arrest protesters any longer.

Yaowalak Anuphan, head of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, said that since the death of the king, at least 20 people have been charged with violating the lese majeste law. What’s more, one of her colleagues, Sirikan Charoensiri, has been charged with sedition because she kept the mobile phones of her student-activist clients inside her car.

“In the 11 months ahead, the NCPO will continue to use the laws [to handle dissent],” Yaowalak said, referring the formal name of the junta, the National Council for Peace and Order.

What’s more, she believes detaining people without charge for up to seven days is not going to stop, as seen in last month’s detention in Bangkok of university students from the Deep South suspected of involvement in a bombing plot.

Yaowalak in fact no longer expects the promised general elections to be held next year due to the year-long mourning period, despite the military government’s insistence it will keep to its roadmap for ceding power.

Thammasat University anthropologist Anusorn Unno said the junta will likely try to create a “new normal” wherein the military is embedded into various administrative and political structures.

“They will probably reduce the harassment they previously committed,” said Anusorn, coordinator of Thai Academic Network for Civil Rights.

He believes the junta will want things as calm as possible during the prolonged mourning period, pointing out that while the regime arrests more lese majeste suspects, it doesn’t support vigilante witch hunting.

“They will try to monopolize power while striving to create a climate where things look normal, like by creating a ‘new normal,’” Anusorn said.

To achieve that, he believes the use of “attitude adjustment” and detention without charge is likely to continue.

Both Anusorn and Abhinya agree staging any public displays of dissent will be difficult.

“There will be difficulties in engaging in any political moves because even the liberty to wear whatever-color dress is gone,” Abhinya said. “It will be tougher to push for issues such as human rights and democracy due to the situation.”

Anusorn said his activism may best be put to use on the issues.

“We will probably have to avoid engaging in political moves that are seen as provocative. This will make things difficult for groups such as the New Democracy Movement or Dao Din,” Anusorn said, referencing the Bangkok- and Isaan-based student activist groups, respectively.

His academic network will focus on the plight of the disenfranchised, such as farmers suffering from low rice prices.

Anusorn said one important factor affecting the political landscape is when His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn ascends to take the throne. Anusorn said this will lead to a realignment in the balance of powers.

Less sure of the junta’s steadiness is Chiang Mai University political scientist Chamnan Chanruang.

“I think there will be less of a crackdown, while attitude adjustments have proven ineffective. The regime is now no different than a populist government as it is trying to shore up the price of rice,” he said.

Chamnan believes the junta is unstable, and its focus will be holding general elections as soon as possible to see the constitution approved in August, which enshrined power for the military, become the law of the land.

“After elections, they could still hold power through proxies. On the other hand, prolonging their stay in power would not be beneficial because people may get bored,” Chamnan said. “And the economic situation isn’t in their favor.”

In the end, he said that whether the junta was elected or unelected, it can’t survive without the support of the masses, who can legitimize them or not.

Moving On, Samsung Promotes Digital Assistant in Galaxy S8

By

Associated Press

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6 November 2016, 13:10

A Samsung shop in the Siam Paragon shopping mall on Oct. 24, 2016.

SEOUL, South Korea — Samsung Electronics says it will offer an artificial intelligence assistant service in the upcoming flagship smartphone.

The South Korean company said Sunday that the Galaxy S8 smartphone will let users order food or perform other tasks without going through a third-party application but by simply asking the phone’s virtual assistant.

Samsung joined the race to create the digital assistant service when it acquired in October Viv Labs Inc., a Silicon Valley startup launched by the same entrepreneurs who sold Siri to Apple.

The Galaxy S8 is expected to make a debut in spring.

Sales of the Galaxy S8 will be crucial for the recovery of Samsung’s mobile business, which saw its profit nearly wiped out by two global recalls of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone.

US Expats Mail Votes, Bite Nails, Scream At Each Other

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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6 November 2016, 12:10

U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton poses with Miami City Ballet founder Toby Lerner Ansin and a Democrats Abroad Thailand T-shirt on Sept. 30 in Miami, Florida. Photo: Democrats Abroad Thailand / Facebook

BANGKOK — As American expats send absentee ballots and cross their fingers for their candidate to win, two partisans weigh in on the leading two candidates while a third explains why he’s voting for neither.

We talked to some openly partisan U.S. expats about who they’re voting for and what that means for both Thailand and the expat community here.

Phil Robertson, 52, who heads Democrats Abroad Thailand, believes the majority of the American expat community will cast their votes for Hillary Clinton.

He thinks most expats vote based on domestic rather than foreign issues.

“The bread and butter issues: economy, jobs, education – U.S. citizens in Thailand want to be part of that. They’re focused on how their vote affects America rather than Thailand,” Robertson said.

He said a line could not be drawn between whoever becomes president and the effect on the American expats in Thailand.

“People don’t normally choose where they live based on who’s the head of state,” he said. “However, some people may choose to run away from America if Trump becomes president,” he said, laughing.

While he won’t give a more precise number than “thousands” for registered Democrat Party supporters in Thailand, he believes they are the most representative of the community.

“There are no Republicans Abroad in Thailand,” said the chairman.

While there doesn’t appear to be an organized group or effort, one can find Republican Party supporters.

Dayton Kannon, a 43-year-old high school social studies teacher who has lived in Thailand for 15 years, voted for Trump as the “lesser of two evils.” He said he has more integrity.

“Governments need honesty, integrity and a stabilizing influence – like His Majesty the Late King,” Kannon said. “The U.S. doesn’t have anyone like this. Because of the U.S. political system, we have to choose between two lesser evils,” Kannon said.

“When the King saw problems, he was also there, on the scene fixing problems, supervising and managing projects. He was making sure that things were happening, so that there was less corruption,” he said. “When Trump manages building projects, he also makes sure it’s done, and that people are accountable for it. If it’s not done right, they’re fired.”

He said it was about showing the right kind of leadership.

“It’s like when there’s a lazy guard or maid. If you pick up stuff in front of them, then they’ll follow your footsteps and do their job.”

“There’s a 50-50 chance of Trump winning,” the social studies teacher said. “Still, I wish I didn’t have to be discussing and choosing between these two options, but this is what the U.S. political system has led us to. So now, we have to make lemonade with lemons.”

Some US expats, however, have opted to vote for neither Hillary nor Trump.

Daryl Allan Holst, a 44-year-old high school science teacher who has lived in Thailand for 20 years, has opted for conservative independent Evan McMullin.

“I have voted Republican in every presidential race before this one,” Holst said. “I felt I could not vote for Trump because I cannot support having him as the face that represents the United States to the rest of the world.” Holst considered voting for Clinton, then decided against it. “In the end, I had to leave the Republicans and Democrats behind this time,” he said.

“I say that it is not a waste to choose the best candidate. If no one chooses the third party candidates, it perpetuates this system that gave us two bad choices this time,” Holst said.

Holst believes constituents should consider how their vote affects non-Americans worldwide.

“I feel many Americans think only about their own little world and do not think about how the leader we choose affects the role that The United States has been playing,” he said. “If The United States suddenly says, ‘we only care about ourselves,’ there is going to be a power vacuum left that is open for anyone to fill.”

The Making of a Cult of Personality

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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5 November 2016, 18:04

s_5160595904800 — Singer Parn Uthaisri Srinarong of Vie Trio band, who sang the Royal Anthem soon after the passing of King Bhumibol, in a video clip that went viral within few hours.

Public mourning has become a competitive sport for some who, intentionally or not, have made it more difficult to impress.

Sobbing in front of cameras has become commonplace in the three weeks since King Bhumibol’s death, to the point where the loyalty of those who don’t cry may be doubted. Endless Thai faces from all walks vowed on cameras and broadcasted from dozens different TV channels to lead a life led by the late King or become his servant again in perpetuity in their future cycles of reincarnation.

Some people are eschewing buses or trains to walk to Bangkok to pay their last respects to King Bhumibol, who lies in state at the Grand Palace, as if enduring greater hardship makes them more loyal and devoted than those who ride the coach.

Such feat was surpassed Oct. 28 when a Thai Rath report emerged about a man walking barefoot from an upcountry province, Sri Saket, to Bangkok. Along the route, people showered him with food, water and money. Those earlier praises for marching to the capital suddenly paled in comparison by virtue of their footwear.

Not to be outdone and in order to differentiate and distinguish themselves from competing TV stations, all of which are running endless stream of Thais speaking and sobbing while praising the King and his legacies, TV Channel 3 on Monday broadcast an interview with a Western man who speaks in fluent Thai praising the late King near the Grand Palace.

Some who publicly expressed their devotion to the King have been doubted, however, particularly actors and actresses who make a living from “acting.”

One such actor, Art Pasut Baanyaem, was reported on Daily News newspaper on Monday that he was criticized for offering free motorcycle rides to and fro the Grand Palace, and accused by some netizens of acting for self-promotion – a charge he denied.

Saying how the King was great and likening him to the father of all Thais on televisions and other local media has become so common now after weeks, you could only stand out if you said something more.

On Tuesday morning, Channel 3 again upped the ante when it invited a male singer to perform a song he composed. That itself was no longer unique as many singers and artists have composed their own songs and have sung on televisions honoring the late monarch. The program host reminded its viewers that the singer, from the deep south, had named his daughter “Por Piang,” or “sufficiency” in Thai, which was inspired by the late King’s so-called “sufficiency economic” philosophy.

Thursday morning on Channel 8, known for its entertainment content, bombshell actress Atthama Chiwanitchaphan, aka Bowie, who was the playmate cover of the May 2016 issue of Playboy Thailand, said on air that His Majesty’s teachings are like religious teachings.

In newspapers, Thai Rath on Tuesday published an interview with TV newscaster Sujira Arunpipat who cried while reporting about the king’s death saying she feels blessed to be born during the reign of King Rama IX, or King Bhumibol, and compared the experience to those who feel blessed to have been born during the lifetime of the historical Buddha.

“We were so lucky. I used to envy those who were born during Lord Buddha’s lifetime because they could meet the Buddha and prostrate in front of him and thought these people were so fortunate. Now I feel so fortunate to have been born during His Majesty’s reign (tears falling) and under his guidance,” Thai Rath quoted Sujira, who was a former beauty queen, as saying. On the same day, some papers including free tabloid M2F ran a photo of what was purported to be lighting at night in the shape of traditional Thai number 9, a reference to Rama IX, over Amphawa market, in Samut Songkram province and dubbed it in its caption as “astonishing.” The photographer, Samut Choosakul, 42, insisted the photo wasn’t doctored.

As Thais continue mourning into week four, nothing seems to be excessive or over the top.

Last Saturday, I asked Wiwat Kletchin, a first year student at Attawit Commercial Technology College who arrived at 3am on Saturday to wait to pay his last respect to the royal urn and coffin on the first day the palace was open to the public why he chose to do be there day one. At 1pm, after 10 hours of waiting and still a long line ahead of him, the 19-year-old Bangkok student explain why he didn’t wait to come weeks later when the line would definitely be shorter: “I am more proud [doing it now]. I look determined.”

Actors and actresses aside, on Thursday, The Nation newspaper reported that sculptor Khemarat Koongsook is embarking on sculpture of the king that is nine times life-size. Khemarat was quoted as saying that he had a moment of epiphany after the United Nations convened a special session to honor the late king. “It showed that our King wasn’t just a great King of Thailand but also for the whole world,” Khemarat said. “Such remarks reminds me of the often-made statement that the King was ‘the King of Kings.’”

The outpouring of competitive loyalty may seem excessive to those detached observers, but for those engaging in such acts it may not be the case. Sensing that the situation may get out of control, military government spokesman Lt. Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd on Wednesday warned royalists on social media not to oppose the return of entertainment and parties and regard these activities as being disloyal to the King after the one-month mandatory mourning period expires. Sansern said the country must continue to move forward.

Excessive and incessant praise and veneration, growing rituals of worship will likely elevate the late King into a demi-god and produce a King-worship cult, and a climate where the only thing one could possibly say about the late King is how great he was and how much you loved him.

What will this mean for Thailand in the long run? I can’t help but wonder.

Yingluck Sells Rice at Bangkok Mall as Prices Fall

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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5 November 2016, 17:05

Yingluck Shinawatra selling rice earlier this week in the Northeast. Photo: Facebook / Courtesy — Yingluck Shinawatra selling rice in November, 2016 in the Northeast. Photo: Facebook / Courtesy

BANGKOK — Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra set up a booth Saturday selling rice from farmers in a bid to help them face falling prices as the military junta kept a close watch.

Yingluck held a rice-selling event at Fashion Island shopping mall 4pm on Saturday afternoon in Bangkok’s Ramintra area.

She earlier posted on Facebook saying the jasmine rice put on sale varied in quality, as it had not been standardized due to the fact it was supplied directly by various farmers.

Read: Everything You Were Afraid to Ask About Thai Rice Subsidies

What Yingluck is doing is permissible and is a good thing, government spokesman Lt. Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said. Sansern added however that the government of Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha is addressing the issue. He did not want to conclude whether what Yingluck is doing was politically motivated or just a PR stunt, he said. Sansern added that if Yingluck had good intentions it would be good for society, saying that otherwise it would be sad.

The turnout for the event was large, with people gathering from throughout the city.

The rice sold out within an hour.

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