Police Officer Gets '800 Years' For Corruption

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13 December 2013, 12:05

(13 December) Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court has sentenced a former police officer to 800 years in prison, after he was found guilty on corruption charges.

The court said there are enough evidences that Pol.Sgt. Mano Noochuea, the 39 year old former policeman from Bueangkhum Police Station, had embezzled state money and failed to perform his duty appropriately.

While performing his duty, the court said, Pol.Sgt. Mano pocketed 72,000 baht fines from 157 arrests of alien workers, as well as another 19,000 baht from the bail money of three defendants.

Convicting him of 160 counts of corruptions, the court handed down the jail term of 5 years for each count, resulting in 800 years of imprisonment.

However, the court noted that the defendant had already returned the embezzled money to the state and confessed to his crime, which led the court to reduce his punishment by a half out of leniency.

Furthermore, as the laws only allow the defendant to be sentenced up to 50 years, the defendant was accordingly sentenced to 50 years in prison.

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2010 Unrest Murder Trial: Abhisit Released On Bail

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12 December 2013, 18:33

(12 December) Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has attended the court trial for the first time to fight charges related to the military crackdown he had authorised in 2010.

The Division of Special Investigation (DSI) has charged him and his former deputy, Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, with murders for the deaths of Redshirts protesters and bystanders who have been reportedly killed by the military acting under his order during the turbulent months of April-May 2010.

The crackdown killed over 90 people, most of them civilians.

Arriving at Ratchada Criminal Court in Bangkok this morning, Mr. Abhisit was greeted by a group of his supporters, who handed him roses, while relatives of those killed in 2010 crackdown rallied on the other side of the court entrance, loudly scolding the former leader for allegedly causing their losses.

The rival groups also briefly exchanged war of words, but the police have prevented them from physically clashing with each other by placing metal barriers between the two groups.

A number of Democrat MPs accompanied Mr. Abhisit to the court, but Mr. Suthep did not make appearance at the court today; in fact, few observers expected him to make an appearance, Mr. Suthep is currently leading anti-government protests and has been charged with separate criminal cases for his "insurrection".

Mr. Suthep′s lawyer, Mr. Jessada Anucharee, has asked the court for a postponement of his appearance to 16 January 2014. His request is being deliberated by the prosecutor office.

Meanwhile, Mr. Abhisit denied all charges before the judges, leading the judges to set the next trial at 24 March 2014. Mr. Abhisit lawyer then filed for a bail release, posting the asset of Mr. Abhisit′s property in Chonburi province as bail money.

The relatives of the 2010 crackdown victims contested Mr. Abhisit′s request, but the court eventually approved it, on the condition that the former leader cannot leave the country without an explicit permission issued by the court.

After the court session was over, Mr. Abhisit and his entourage quickly left the court building via the back exit, presumably to avoid meeting with the large crowd of reporters, both Thai and foreign, who were waiting to interview him at the court entrance.

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Swedish National 'Commits Suicide' In Phuket

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12 December 2013, 18:28

(12 December) Phuket police is investigating the death of a Swedish national, who was found dead in his resident in Mueang district, Phuket province.

His 38 year old Thai wife said she had left home to buy lunch for her
husband, but when she returned, she reportedly found out that the house was locked from the inside.
She tried calling her husband on the mobile phone, but the man did not respond, she
said.

After she broke into the house, the woman found her husband dead. Police found three
cooking knives near his body and a big blue basin near his bed.

His wife said that the man had stayed in
Thailand for three years and has been suffering chronic diseases. She said she has also heard him
complaining about his illness and his wish to die.

Police said they had found a fatal wound on the man′s neck, leading
to a speculation that he may have committed suicide. However, further investigation is still
proceeding.

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Establish People's Council, Or No Election: Suthep

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12 December 2013, 16:48

BANGKOK – Leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King as Head of State (PCAD) Suthep Thaugsuban has revealed preliminary details of his proposal for "People′s Council."

He also warned that he will do everything he can to prevent the next election from taking place unless the government agrees to establish the "People′s Council" as he has demanded.

Mr. Suthep has previously refused to call off his campaign against the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra even after Ms. Yingluck had dissolved the House and called new elections, vowing instead to fight on until Thailand is ruled by an unelected "People′s Council" which would transform the nation into an "absolute democracy".

Although he has promised many benefits Thailand would receive under the "People′s Council", such as the eradication of corruption and evil politicians, Mr. Suthep has never explained in-depth details of the council, other than insisting that it would be composed of "virtuous" people.

But in a meeting with representatives of the private sectors earlier today, Mr. Suthep finally shed some lights on his proposal. He told the delegates there would be a total of 400 seats in the People′s Council: 300 selected from "occupation-based" quota and another 100 seats would be given to "experts" selected by the PCAD.

In order to establish the Council, Mr. Suthep told the representatives from 7 organisations, the Prime Minister would have to resign, paving the way for Deputy House Speaker to ask His Majesty the King to appoint a new Prime Minister under Article 7 of the 2007 Constitution, which Mr. Suthep argued allowed the king to exercise his royal power in such manner.

Mr. Suthep did not mention who would be the royally appointed Prime Minister, but he said the premiere would act as a transitional leader, whose duty is to establish the People′s Council.

Mr. Suthep likewise did not name any potential candidate for the People′s Council, but said its members would not be registered to any political party.

He insisted to the delegates that such move will not affect the national economy, since a similar incident has happened in the era of Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn.

The PCAD secretary-general also told the private sector representatives that there are two ways the ongoing crisis could end: either the people seize power in a popular revolution, or Ms. Yingluck resigns to allow the activation of Article 7.

"The sooner Ms. Yingluck can resign", Mr. Suthep said, "the faster the nation will return to peace".

When the chairman of Thailand′s Tourism Council asked Mr. Suthep how he would return Thailand to its image as "Land of Smiles," Mr. Suthep replied he would invite all political groups to join his effort to reform Thai politics, including the Redshirts, to display the Thai way of reconciliation to the world.

However, when another representative inquired whether the Redshirts would really be invited, Mr. Suthep conceded that he would welcome all Redshirts except some of their leaders, such as Mr. Wirakan Musikkapong, Mr. Nattawut Saikua, and Mr. Jatupon Prompan.

"We are open to discussion, but we are not open to negotiation. Change must be made before next election," Mr. Suthep told the delegation, declaring that he will never allow the election to take place unless his "reforms" are completed first.

Asked whether he is willing to enter a dialogue with Ms. Yingluck, Mr. Suthep said he had already told Ms. Yingluck they will not meet again, because she had rejected his proposal for the "People′s Council" during one of their previous meetings.

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UDD Coordinator Detained At Airport For 2010 Unrest

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12 December 2013, 15:43

(12 December) Miscommunication between police forces is said to be behind the brief detention of a leader of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) at Suvarnnabhumi Airport today.

Ms. Pratheep Ungsongtham Hata said she was about to board a 08.00 flight to Osaka, Japan, at the airport when she was approached by a group of immigration police, who reportedly told her they had to detain her for questioning due to an arrest warrant requested by Tha Rua Police in 2010.

She said the arrest warrant was issued for her role during the May 2010 military crackdown on the Redshirt protesters, in which she organised a rally in Khlong Toey district to criticise the operation of the security forces at the time.

The police later charged Ms. Pratheep with violating the Emergency Decree announced by then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiv, which banned political gathering of any kind.

However, Ms. Pratheep said the police action at Suvarnabhumi greatly surprised her because the warrant had been withdrawn by the police shortly after the Emergency Decree was lifted, and it has been three years since her alleged wrongdoing.

"I?ve been in and out of country for at least 9 times," Ms. Pratheep said, "I never had any problem until today".

When Suvarnnabumi police contacted Tha Rua Police Station, they were told that her warrant had indeed expired, and that there has been communication error in the police database. Ms. Pratheep was later allowed to board another plane to her destination after a detention that lasted for 3 hour.

Ms. Pratheep said she was traveling to Japan for a charity event for poor children.

She added that she will ask Pheu Thai Party and her lawyer to file a request to the Royal Thai Police, asking the officials to make sure that other UDD leaders who had been charged with offences during 2010 riots will not face the same problems at the airport due to errors in police database.

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Pheu Thai Derides Democrats' Polls Hesitation

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12 December 2013, 13:44

(12 December) The Democrat Party is still hesitant on whether to run for the next election, believed to take place on 2 February 2014.

Mr. Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, spokesman of the Democrat Party, said yesterday that members of the party will discuss about the question during the party′s general assembly on 16-17 December.

In the press conference, Mr. Chavanond said the general assembly was initially scheduled to take place on 23-24 December, but political situation has forced the party executives to hasten the schedule.

But a well-informed source reported that Democrat chairman, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, has already chaired a private discussion with a number of high-ranking Democrat members.

"The discussion was done in a very tense atmosphere," the source said, adding that the Democrat leaders were divided into two groups of opinions: those in favour of running in the next election, and those who are not.

According to the source, some members were concerned that if the Democrat Party announced to take part in the election, they would risk anger former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban, who is leading a protest movement against PM Yingluck Shinawatra, and has called for an unelected ?People′s Council? as the solution for Thailand instead of an election.

Endorsing the new election would alienate Mr. Suthep′s supporters, this faction of the Democrat Party reportedly argued.

However, an opposing view in the party leadership contended that it would be very difficult for the Democrat Party to explain their rejection of the election to the public.

"It′s a sensitive topic, and Mr. Abhisit is unlikely to decide on the matter at this moment," the source informed Khaosod. The source also claimed that the Democrat Party leadership has decided that they still have some time to debate the matter before the deadline for election application on 23 December.

The news reports that the Democrat Party is ambiguous in its stance toward the upcoming election has led chairman of the Pheu Thai Party, Mr. Jarupong Ruangsuwan to mock the opposition party in a press conference earlier today.

"I want to invite the [Democrat Party] to come out and do an elephant battle in the open," Mr. Jarupong said, after stating that Pheu Thai is ready to face its rival in the polls, "The elephant should leave the shade of the trees already. Don?t just stand there".

He also derided the Democrat Party for claiming that the majority of Thai people has supported its campaign against the government, yet it feared to take part in an election.

Asked whether he is concerned that the Democrat Party might boycott the election, Mr. Jarupong admitted he was indeed concerned by the possibility, but said the public would judge the action of the Democrat Party.

Mr. Jarupong also told reporters that although Pheu Thai leadership wants Ms. Yingluck to run in the election as the prime contender again, it solely depends on Ms. Yingluck′s decision whether she will do so.

Nevertheless, the Pheu Thai chairman stressed that the party has not named any other person to run in Ms. Yingluck′s place neither.

"We have only Ms. Yingluck. No other name," Mr. Jarupong insisted.

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Siriraj Hospital Explains HM King's Speech Difficulty

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12 December 2013, 12:52

Crowd celebrating His Majesty the King's Birthday, 5 December 2013

(12 December) The dean of Siriraj Hospital′s Faculty of Medicine has assured the Thais that the health of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen are improving.

Dr. Udom Kachinthorn said his medical team is exceedingly happy with the recovery of Their Majesties from their illness.

The monarchs are currently residing at a seaside palace at Hua Hin, south of Bangkok, having left Siriraj Hospital earlier this year.

His Majesty the King recently appeared on a live television broadcast on 5 December – HM′s Birthday – in which he briefly gave a scripted speech. However, the 86-year old monarch stumbled on certain parts of the speech, while the camera fixed on the audience of top officials and military commanders, who visibly looked anxious.

But Dr. Udom said His Majesty′s difficulty in reading the speech is not a worrying condition.

"It′s a normal condition of elderly persons. They often pause as they are doing something," Dr. Udom told reporters.

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Petition To Expel Student Activist Attracts 3,000 Signatures

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12 December 2013, 12:16

(12 December) Over 3,000 Thammasat University students and alumni have signed the petition calling for the expulsion of an outspoken student activist, Matichon has reported.

Mr. Ong-on Phu-arkard, the Thammasat alumnus who headed the expulsion campaign, explained to Matichon that the transgender activist Aum Neko has disrespected the university in many occasions.

Those offences include dressing inappropriately, using impolite words to the lecturers, and, recently, attemptingtoreplace the Thai national flag over Thammasat University′s administrative building with a black flag, ostensibly to protest the university rector′s biased political perspectives.

Mr. Ong-on said Ms. Aum, whose real name is Mr. Saran Chuichai, has violated other people′s rights with these actions. 3,050 students and alumni have signed the petition, he added.

The petition was accepted by Thammasat Rector Somkid Lertpaithoon, who told Matichon that Ms. Aum had displayed many inappropriate actions, such as climbing onto the statue of Mr. Pridi Banomyong, the co-plotter of the 1932 revolution which toppled the Siamese Absolute Monarchy and the founder of Thammasat University.

These repeated offences have forced the university administration to set up an investigation committee headed by Vice Rector Prinya Thaewanarumitkul to determine the punishment for Ms. Aum, Mr. Somkid said.

He added that the committee has proposed a one-year suspension as the punishment, but Ms. Aum′s family has contacted the university and asked for a one-semester suspension instead. Mr. Somkid said the decision will be announced in 1-2 weeks.

Furthermore, Mr. Somkid said another committee will also be formed to investigate the ?black flag? incident for a separate punishment. As for the petition calling for Ms. Aum′s expulsion, Mr. Somkid said if her offences do not qualify for the expulsion described by university guidelines, she cannot be expelled.

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Policeman Mobbed, Severely Injured By Anti-Govt Protesters

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11 December 2013, 19:50

(11 December) A police officer in charge of overseeing the anti-government protests on Ratchadamnoen Avenue has been admitted to hospital with severe injuries after he was mobbed by a group of protesters.

Reports say Pol.Sen.Sgt.Maj. Sunthorn Nongyai was filming a man playing guitar in front of a restaurant in the protest site last night when he was spotted by the protesters. The protest guards accused the police officer of spying on them, and reportedly proceeded to kick him in the face.

The guards also took his smartphones. They later blindfolded and handcuffed Pol.Sgt.Maj. Sunthorn before beating him repeatedly, until protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban learned of the incident and ordered the guards to stop.

Reportedly, Pol.Sen.Sgt.Maj. Sunthorn suffered with head injuries and wound infections in his knees, causing the medical team to operate on his nose and keep him at the hospital.

His condition has been described as severe, but gradually improving.

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Foreign Governments Urge Peace, Election In Thailand

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11 December 2013, 16:51

Anti-government protesters, 11 December 2013

(11 December) Various foreign governments such as the United States, Canada, and China have expressed concerns over escalating tensions in Thailand, and advised the kingdom to resolve the crisis in a democratic way.

In issued statements, many national representatives also noted that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had already called for a new general election to pave the way forward for the country after the dissolution of the Parliament.

Ms. Jen Psaki, spokesperson for the United States Department of State, said in a statement that “The United States strongly supports democratic institutions and the democratic process in Thailand”.

“Prime Minister Yingluck has called for elections as a way forward amid ongoing political tensions and demonstrations. We encourage all involved [party] to resolve political differences peacefully and democratically in a way that reflects the will of the Thai people and strengthens the rule of law.”

The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. John Baird, also issued a statement reads: “Canada is concerned by continuing protests in Bangkok and by renewed risks of associated violence and instability.

“Canada urges all parties to engage through the legitimate Thai democratic institutions and uphold the rule of law. It is the right of every Thai citizen to voice their opinions and concerns through peaceful means and to exercise their democratic rights through an inclusive electoral process.”

Echoing other national representatives, German Minister of Foreign Affairs Guido Westerwelle expressed his worry over the current situation in Thailand. “[We] call on all those in positions of political responsibility to act with moderation and restraint so that the situation does not spiral out of control.”

“Further violence and the spilling of yet more blood on the streets of Bangkok would be a serious setback for democracy, political stability and social and economic development in Thailand," said Mr. Westerwelle, who suggested that Thailand needs public debate to solve the current political situation.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a brief statement stating that as a friendly neighbour, China hopes that the Thai election will be held smoothly.

"We hope to see relevant parties in Thailand properly manage differences through dialogue and consultation within the framework of the constitution and laws, and restore national stability and order at an early date," said Mr. Hong Lei, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Minister of New Zealand, Mr. Murray McCully, also stated that calling for new election represents the commitment of PM Yingluck towards peaceful resolution.

“The New Zealand Government has been concerned by the tensions in recent weeks and the risk of further bloodshed. Elections, expected to take place in February, demonstrate the Yingluck Government’s commitment to a peaceful resolution”

Meanwhile, Ms. Julie Bishop, the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said she hoped the election would help ease the country political situation, and praised the Thai authorities for allowing peaceful protests. She also called for a peaceful democratic process, with respect for the rule of law.

However, Mr. Rolf-Dieter Daniel, President of the European-ASEAN Business Centre, told our correspondent via email that it is not an ideal time for Thailand to dissolve the parliament, as Thailand and EU is currently negotiating about the joint Free-Trade Agreement.

He commented that “Thailand is losing precious time and may even fall behind their ASEAN peers, who are also in FTA negotiations with the EU,” and that it may lose its chance to become an economic hub within ASEAN.

Although foreign companies in Thailand possess good understanding about Thai politics, the daily reports about the conflict would definitely discourage foreign investment or postpone investors’ future projects, according to Mr. Daniel.

The EABC president also warned that the past conflict that has isolated Thailand from international community, due to its lack of democracy, and suggested that such situation should be avoided, as it could halt the country’s economic development.

"Thailand should remain a free and open society with democratic footing," Mr. Daniel said.

At the same time, he said, the country should tackle the problem of corruptions since many corporations have described it as a major obstacle for investment in Thailand.

EABC also supports the initiative by the Thai Chamber of Commerce to act as a mediator for the debate between the government and the opposition parties, Mr. Daniel added.

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