Thái Lan hậu bầu cử

Nếu "Vì người Thái" chiến thắng, họ sẽ quan tâm nhiều đến việc xây dựng luật về ân xá và chắc chắn nó sẽ gặp phải sự phản đối gay gắt từ tầng lớp trung lưu, lãnh đạo doanh nghiệp và lãnh đạo giới học thuật. Nếu "Dân chủ" giành được thắng lợi, họ sẽ phải đối mặt với sự giận dữ từ phe Áo đỏ và những sự việc như Rachaprasong rất có khả năng tiếp tục tái diễn.

Post-election landscape

1/07/2011

After the war of words and gruelling political campaigning, the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties go to the election on Sunday with two words which could decide their fate: majority and margin.

The magic number is 250 out of the total 500 seats available, both constituency-based and party list. If Pheu Thai manages to win the highest number of seats and it gains the majority too, then it's game over for the Democrats and Bhumjaithai.

There's really not much doubt which party will win the most seats on Sunday. Based on past performance and opinion surveys both by independent organisations and the political parties themselves, it's almost a foregone conclusion that Pheu Thai will sail past the finish line first, followed by the Democrats and then Bhumjaithai.

It's the number of seats that each party will win that remains in question.

The Election Commission bars publication of poll results a week before the election. One week before the deadline, Suan Dusit Poll with the largest poll size of more than 100,000 people nationwide, released its results which said that the Pheu Thai Party would win 260 seats, the Democrats 170 and Bhumjaithai 18.

Pheu Thai's own survey estimated it would bag at least 270 seats and at most 300. With such favourable readings, the party's tactic going into the final leg of the election has been simply maintaining the positive momentum.

The Democrats have their own estimates too. Although it is coming from behind, the country's oldest party and current core of the government remains confident it will fare better than suggested by the surveys and that it could win as many as 190 to 200 seats.

The Democrats also do not believe that Pheu Thai will do as well in the election as in the polling. Contrary to most other estimates, the Democrats still hold to the belief that Pheu Thai will win only 210 seats at the most.

With its ally Bhumjaithai projecting that it will do three times better on election day than in the opinion polls, winning some 50 to 60 seats, the Democrats are hopeful they can still form the next government even from a second-place position.

Pheu Thai's confidence lies with its large voter base - its predecessor the People Power Party won as many as 233 out of 480 seats contested in the 2007 election - and powerful marketing strategies prompted it to announce early on in the race that it wouldn't join hands with Bhumjaithai in forming the next government. This move turned the election into a race to win a majority.

The Democrats fought back during the last leg of their campaign - starting with their controversial rally on June 23 at Ratchaprasong, the scene of last year's red shirt protest that led to the military crackdown with scores killed. The Democrats called on voters to give them more than 250 seats so that they could "detoxify" Thailand from any lingering legacy of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Another game-changer is the controversial issue of amnesty.

Even though Yingluck Shinawatra and the Pheu Thai cadre came out to deny that the party has a policy of granting an amnesty for a single person - Thaksin - the party has not yet clearly stated what its stance is on this thorny issue.

The Democrats wasted no time capitalising on Pheu Thai's ambivalence, its Achilles' Heel as far as this election goes, in the Democrats' view. On top of that, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's stance supporting the threat made by the Thai delegation to the World Heritage Committee meeting on the Preah Vihear temple to withdraw Thailand's membership of the World Heritage Convention could gain him some votes from undecided voters or some members of the yellow shirt People's Alliance for Democracy who could find the Democrats' nationalist gesture to their liking.

If Pheu Thai gets to form the government after the election, the amnesty question will continue to haunt it. The party may bank on the possibility of it winning a landslide victory as a mandate for it to go ahead with a sweeping am nesty, possibly for all cases both political and criminal since the 2006 coup. It has already assigned a key leader, Chalerm Yubamrung, to work on a draft law on amnesty which it renamed a national reconciliation draft bill after public sentiment turned against the proposal.

Not only is a government led by Pheu Thai destined to meet a formidable opponent in the Democrats but it's highly possible that members of the middle class, business leaders and intellectual leaders would also line up against it if the party pushes ahead with the amnesty proposal.

After some leaders of Pheu Thai made the threat they would settle scores with state officials and justice authorities such as Department of Special Investigation director-general Tharit Pengdit, whom red shirt leaders within Pheu Thai con sider their arch enemy, this means reconciliation is unlikely to be the name of the game for a Pheu Thai government. More conflicts and possibly confrontation can be expected.

If the Democrats manage the incredible in the last stretch and win enough votes to form a government, they will have an equally tough task of proving themselves. There is no question that the ruling party did not spend its last two years in power wisely. Its performance was less than impressive even in the eyes of its hardcore fans. It has to show that it really does know how to implement its policies.

In terms of public sentiment, a Democrat-led coalition would likely be more acceptable to business leaders and members of the establishment, some of whom have expressed the desire to see the incumbent carry on its initiatives including the independent committees on truth and national reform.

Still, it is certain the Democrats will continue to face red shirt wrath if it usurps the likely election winner Pheu Thai and forms the next government. Again, the road ahead would be sewn with more conflicts and possibly violence.

With such a reading of the post-election landscape, it's no surprise both Pheu Thai and the Democrats are racing for the magic majority - the 250 seats which would give either party the much-needed mandate to forward its agenda, whatever it might be.

If neither party can win a majority of seats and the margin is not substantial, then the country will likely be heading towards more trying times and a return to instability.

Nguồn: Bangkok Post,

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/244908/post-election-landscape

"Vì người Thái" và "Dân chủ" sẽ tung ra các con bài cuối cùng

Trong khi "Dân chủ" đang chưa đưa ra chiến lược cụ thể thì "Vì người Thái" tung Tầm nhìn 2020 vạch ra 20 mục tiêu mà đảng này sẽ cố gắng đạt được, bao gồm cải thiện cơ sở hạ tầng, tăng việc sử dụng năng lượng xanh, giảm hối lộ và cải thiện ngành tư pháp.

Huge rallies wind up campaign

Democrats, Pheu Thai make final voter push

1/07/2011

The Democrat and Pheu Thai parties will today wrap up their election campaigns with massive rallies in Bangkok in a final push to drum up public support and get a decisive majority.

Driven to speak out More than 1,000 drivers from the Public Taxis Association yesterday kicked off a campaign against vote buying and to encourage people to turn out for the election. They gathered at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok before driving their cabs with campaign stickers around the city. NATTHITI AMPRIWAN

The Democrats hope about 90,000 supporters will fill the Royal Plaza while the 70,000-seat Rajamangala stadium will host Pheu Thai voters.

A 600-strong force from the Metropolitan Police Division 1 has been assigned to the Democrat's venue and another 700-man unit from Metropolitan Police Division 4 will be deployed to the Pheu Thai rally.

The two rallies will be broadcast live via satellite to their provincial election centres and streamed online.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva will stress that when the people exercise their rights on Sunday they will determine the direction the country will take for the future. He will also highlight how he is prepared to work to achieve the kind of future the people want.

"[Mr Abhisit] will show why they should vote for the party and how the country will benefit from it," said Democrat Sathit Wongnongtoey.

Mr Abhisit said yesterday the party was buoyed by a warmer-than-usual response over the past two weeks.

He reiterated that the country would go beyond one man and start to focus on problems facing the nation if they elect the Democrats.

Other key speakers are Apirak Kosayodhin, the party's election director for Bangkok, and deputy party leader Korn Chatikavanij. The rally is scheduled to kick off at 6pm.

Pheu Thai's Yingluck Shinawatra will present the party's "Vision 2020".

Vision 2020 outlines 20 targets Pheu Thai will try to achieve, including improving infrastructure, increasing the use of green energy, graft reduction and improved administration of justice. She said the party is looking ahead to the next eight years.

"The voters will see what they are in for if they elect Pheu Thai to power.

"We are projecting a daily minimum wage of 1,000 baht a day and a salary of 30,000 baht for university graduates at entry level," she said.

The Pheu Thai rally is scheduled to start at 4pm. Key speakers include Chalerm Yubamrung, Plodprasop Suraswadi and Natthawut Saikua. Mr Natthawut yesterday likened today's rallies to two cinemas screening different movies, with Pheu Thai showing the way to the future as the Democrats focus on political violence and struggle.

"So select the theatre you want to go to," he said.

According to Mr Natthawut, the Pheu Thai Party has asked people about the government's handling of national affairs during the election and been told it was a failure.

Meanwhile, Democrat strategist Korbsak Sabhavasu said yesterday his party will not be picking up from its previous campaign rally at Ratchaprasong intersection.

The Democrats last week took their campaign to Ratchaprasong, where last year's red shirt protest turned chaotic, and blamed the ensuing riots and fatalities on ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Korbsak also took Pheu Thai to task for failing to stick to its campaign platform, saying the party's economic chief Olarn Chaiprawat backpedalled on several issues."At first it was a daily minimum wage of 300 baht for all. Now he is saying it is for skilled labour only.

"The party promised a 15,000 baht salary for graduates, but it is saying it will be limited to certain groups of civil officials," he said.

"Pheu Thai also talked about amnesty for Thaksin, but the plan is being shelved." Mr Korbsak demanded the party be fair to the public by clarifying these issues before election day.

Nguồn: Bangkok Post,

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/election/244837/huge-rallies-wind-up-campaign

Xuất hiện tin về đàm phán bí mật giữa người của "Vì người Thái" và quân đội Thái Lan

Tờ Asia Times online vào hôm thứ Tư (29/6) đã đăng bài viết nói rằng cựu Thủ tướng Thanksin Shinawatra đã phái ông Wattana, cựu Bộ trưởng Thương mại Thái Lan dưới thời Thaksin, tổ chức "các cuộc đàm phán bí mật" với Tướng Prawit ở Brunei vào tháng Hai năm nay.

Wattana rejects secret Pheu Thai-military deal

Report claims party will be allowed to form govt

1/07/2011

Pheu Thai party list MP Wattana Muangsuk has dismissed a news report that he struck a deal with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon to allow the party to form the next government without fear of opposition from the military.

The Asia Times online newspaper on Wednesday posted a news story saying former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had sent Mr Wattana, a former commerce minister in the Thaksin administration, to hold "secret talks" with Gen Prawit in Brunei in February.

See also: Rumours swirl of Thaksin compromise

The report said the talks were aimed at avoiding fresh confrontations between the red shirts and the military after Sunday's election, and seeking reconciliation after the clashes in April and May last year between the military and red shirt protesters led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

Opinion polls suggest Pheu Thai has taken the lead in the election race over its main rival, the Democrat Party.

The report quoted sources at the talks as saying that Mr Wattana and Gen Prawit had reached a deal under which the military will not oppose Pheu Thai forming the next government.

In return, Thaksin and Pheu Thai have been asked not to seek revenge or legal action against military leaders involved in last year's crackdown on red shirt protesters that resulted in the death of 92 people.

Thaksin and Pheu Thai have also been asked not to interfere in military affairs, particularly the annual military reshuffle, and to rein in anti-monarchy elements in the UDD, according to the Asia Times report.

Mr Wattana said on Thursday that he did not meet Gen Prawit in Brunei and no deal had been reached with Gen Prawit as claimed.

He had no credentials to negotiate and make such a bargain. He only went to Brunei once, to visit Thaksin, Mr Wattana said.

Gen Prawit said he had never met Mr Wattana in Brunei. They talked over the phone sometimes, but never discussed politics. Gen Prawit was army chief when Thaksin was prime minister.

Yingluck Shinawatra, Pheu Thai's top party list candidate, dismissed the report as a rumour.

She said Thaksin had distanced himself from politics in Thailand and Pheu Thai was determined to press ahead with its plan to achieve national reconciliation.

However, a Pheu Thai source said Mr Wattana had been trying to hold talks with the military to discuss the formation of a new government at the behest of Thaksin.

Nguồn: Bangkok Post,
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/244839/wattana-rejects-secret-pheu-thai-military-deal

Bà Yingluck đã có cuộc gặp với phái viên của Mỹ ở Thái Lan

Bà Yingluck đã thú nhận vào hôm thứ Ba (28/6) rằng phái viên Mỹ đã thể hiện sự quan ngại về nguy cơ của một cuộc đảo chính ở Thái Lan trong cuộc gặp riêng giữa bà với vị quan chức người Mỹ này. Bà từ chối tiết lộ chi tiết về cuộc gặp và nói rằng tốt hơn là để cho Mỹ tự đưa ra thông tin về vấn đề này.

Democrats look to end strong

Abhisit says Yingluck's novelty wearing off

30/06/2011

Prime Minister and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva says his party is gaining momentum in its bid to reverse sagging poll numbers ahead of the election.

"I am optimistic," he said in an interview at a campaign stop in Samut Sakhon province yesterday.

"We are gathering momentum. After the initial bounce in terms of novelty value for my opponent, now I think people begin to see the real alternative."

Polls show the Democrats trailing Pheu Thai, led by Yingluck Shinawatra, the youngest sister of exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Parties linked to billionaire Thaksin have won at least 49% of parliamentary seats in the past four elections dating back to 2001, only to have the last three results overturned through court rulings and a coup.

The Democrats will hold their last major campaign rally before the election at Royal Plaza in the capital tomorrow evening, at the same time as Pheu Thai rallies at Rajamangala National Stadium in the Hua Mak area.

The Democrats also urged Ms Yingluck to clarify her remarks about US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney's concern over a possible coup.

Democrat spokesman Buranaj Smutharaks yesterday said his party wanted to ask Ms Yingluck whether a coup had been discussed during her conversation with the US ambassador.

A coup was a big issue because the election is near and discussing such a topic would affect confidence in the the country, he said.

Ms Yingluck on Tuesday admitted the US envoy expressed concern about the potential for a coup in Thailand during a private talk on Monday. She declined to give further details, saying it would be better to let the US give information about the matter itself.

The Pheu Thai No.1 party-list candidate met Ms Kenney at the ambassador's residence on Monday. She had said their meeting simply followed a postponement of several earlier appointments caused by schedules clashing.

Ms Yingluck quoted the US envoy as saying that the US supported the election and democratic rule in Thailand.

Meanwhile, Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai dismissed the possibility of a coup, saying there were no reasons to fear that the military would stage a putsch.

Mr Chuan said the question of a coup should not have been raised as the country is heading for an election.

He said by principle a party that had the most seats should have the right to form a government. It is tradition, not a rule, that the party which musters enough votes to earn a majority in the House also gets to form a coalition government.

On speculation that red shirts might be mobilised to stage protests and that chaos would ensue if Pheu Thai won but was unable to form a government, Mr Chuan said Pheu Thai should ask the red shirts not to stir up any unrest.

First Army commander Udomdej Sitabutr yesterday said that forces under the command of army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha were neutral and would not derail the election.

Nguồn: Bangkok Post,
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/244657/democrats-look-to-end-strong

Giới học giả Thái Lan: Chính sách thế chấp gạo của "Vì người Thái" tạo điều kiện cho tham nhũng

Pheu Thai rice policy 'ripe for corruption'

29/06/2011

The Pheu Thai Party's proposal of reverting to a previous rice mortgage policy with a high premium from existing rice price guarantees could incur huge fiscal damage and open opportunities for corruption by millers, says academics.

Pheu Thai said it would set rice mortgages at 20,000 baht for premium-graded jasmine rice and and 15,000 baht for ordinary paddy for all harvested amounts.

The Democrats introduced a rice price guarantee last year at 11,000 baht per tonne for farmers registered with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives, with an aim to cut leakage to millers who acted as middlemen.

Somporn Isvilanonda, an economics professor at Kasetsart University, said both systems could stymie farmers' enthusiasm to reduce costs and improve yields. But the mortgage system is vulnerable to various types of corruption by millers, such as faking rice stocks, mortgaging low-quality rice and collecting premiums from farmers. It could also subdue rice prices as traders would anticipate the sale of huge rice stocks.

Assoc Prof Somporn said the rice mortgage system used to be a good tool to assist farmers who have an oversupply of rice, as it offered market price or slightly above. But the expansion of premiums and amount of mortgages by previous governments resulted in widespread corruption. The government later sold rice in the stock at a low price to millers.

The role of the millers as middlemen resulted in just 1 million out of 4.7 million agricultural households receiving benefits from the state, he said.

Assoc Prof Somporn, who sits in the rice committee, said that both systems used a similar amount of money, but the fiscal money went directly to all registered farmers for the price guarantee programme. The rice mortgage with a high price would decrease competitiveness for rice exports, he said.

The Abhisit Vejjajiva government, however, failed to encourage farmers to reduce costs due to its promotion of weather insurance and agricultural futures transactions. The insurance programmes encouraged farmers to grow more rice and harvest more quickly, thus the quality of rice tended to decline, he said.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating fiscal damages from the sales of crop stocks under the government's mortgage programme. It might pick up the issue as a priority if the mortgage is reintroduced, Assoc Prof Somporn said.

Ammar Siamwalla, an honorary scholar of the Thailand Development Research Institute who advised the previous government on the rice price guarantee, said Pheu Thai would fail in its attempt to push up the rice price, as it would be depressed by huge stockpiles and increase new rice supplies.

Unlike shares, the rice price could not be propped up by buying big lots.

Pheu Thai's policy may prove a success over the first four months of the administration, but the government would have to spend unlimited fiscal funds in trying to achieve this, Dr Ammar said.

He also said the country would be put at risk of fiscal instability if Pheu Thai party implemented all campaign promises.

He said the Democrats should focus their campaign on the likely impact of Pheu Thai's economic plan, rather than defending state officials' role in the crackdown of last year's red-shirt protests.

Nguồn: Bangkok Post,
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/244475/pheu-thai-rice-policy-ripe-for-corruption

Quân đội cam kết hoàn toàn ủng hộ bầu cử

Army pledges full support for election

29/06/2011

Forces under the command of army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha are certain to remain neutral and to fully support the July 3 election, Army Region 1 commander Udomdej Sitabutr said on Wednesday.

Lt-Gen Udomdej said he believed that at this stage nobody could derail the election and all, or nearly all, soldiers would go to the polls to cast their individual ballots.

"We have told all army personnel that they have the right to vote for any candidate or party of their choice. What is of high importance is that the monarchy must be safeguarded," he said.

The Army Region 1 commander denied that soldiers had been lobbied to vote for a certain party.

"What we are doing is urging as many as soldiers as possible to exercise their voting right," he said.

Lt-Gen Udomdej expressed concern over possible violence during the last stages of campaigning.

As a preventive measure, Internal Security Operations Command intelligence units have been collecting information and Isoc would inform police if anything suspicious was detected, he said.

Nguồn: Bangkok Post,
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/244574/army-pledges-full-support-for-election

Thăm dò dư luận Abac: 10 triệu cử tri chưa quyết định bầu ai, "Vì người Thái" vẫn dẫn đầu

10 million voters still undecided, Abac Poll finds

 

By THE NATION
Published on June 23, 2011

About 10 million voters, 30 per cent of those who plan to cast ballots, remain undecided about the July 3 election, Abac Poll found in a survey released yesterday.
The nationwide survey was conducted from June 1-21 on a |sample group of 5,349 respondents in 28 selected provinces to gauge |the sentiment on party-list candidates.

One of the survey's conclusions is that 36 million people, accounting for 76 per cent of eligible voters, plan to cast ballots. Given a 7-percentage-point margin of error, voter turnout is projected to range between 69 and 83 per cent.

About 25 million, or 70 per cent, have already made up their mind on which party they will vote for, according to the survey.

Based on the projection of proportionate votes to be cast, Pheu Thai is in the lead and should win 46-63 of 125 party-list seats up for grabs in the House of Representatives. The Democrat Party is projected to win 40-58 seats.

Bhum Jai Thai could win up to 17 seats. Chart Pattana Puea Pandin has the potential to secure up to 13 seats. Other parties have the combined potential to grab up to 18 seats.

If the vote were to take place today instead of election day, Pheu Thai might win 55 seats, followed by the Democrats with 49 seats. Bhum Jai Thai would get eight seats and Chat Pattana Puea Pandin four.

Nguồn: The Nation,

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/10-million-voters-still-undecided-Abac-Poll-finds-30158491.html

Thăm dò dư luận ở Bangkok: "Vì người Thái" dẫn trước "Dân chủ"

Pheu Thai tops Bangkok Poll in list, constituency systems

 

24/06/2011

The Pheu Thai Party is the most popular choice under both the list and constituency voting systems in Bangkok while the Democrat Party is second, according to Bangkok University's poll.

Bangkok Poll, which questioned 3,338 people in the city from June 16-22, found 37.9% of respondents said they would vote for Pheu Thai in the constituency system, 22.2% said they would vote for the Democrats, 22.1% were undecided, while 5.1% would tick the no-vote box.

Yingluck: Preferred for next premier

For the list election, 38.3% would vote for Pheu Thai, 21.6% for the Democrats, 20.6% were undecided, 3.4% would pick Chuwit Kamolvisit's Rak Thailand Party, 1.6% the Rak Santi Party, and 4.7% register a no-vote.

For respondents' preferred choice to be the next prime minister, 47.2% said they would pick Yingluck Shinawatra, the top Pheu Thai party-list candidate against 28% who preferred Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Ms Yingluck's supporters reasoned that they wanted a new prime minister and also a first female premier for the country. They considered her as being experienced in business management.

Those who picked Mr Abhisit said they wanted him to proceed with the work of his government and supported the policies of the party.

Third ranked was Purachai Piumsombun of the Rak Santi Party who was favoured by 5.1% of the respondents for his straightforwardness, honesty and hard work. Fourth ranked was Mr Chuwit of the Rak Thailand Party. He received support from 3.9% of the respondents for his outspokenness and sincerity.

About 57% of the respondents did not believe the Election Commission could ensure a fair election while 43% thought the commission could.

Nguồn: Bangkok Post, http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/election/243699/pheu-thai-tops-bangkok-poll-in-list-constituency-systems

Ứng cử viên Yingluck được minh oan

Yingluck in the clear with SEC

Tul says verdict intended to 'protect' Shinawatras

 

Bangkok Post

Published: 14/06/2011

The Securities and Exchange Commission has cleared Pheu Thai Party's No.1 list candidate Yingluck Shinawatra of accusations that she broke securities law, insisting that its investigation into her had been concluded.

The SEC investigation was prompted by calls from two groups accusing her of making false transaction reports among other infractions in relation to securities she had allegedly held on behalf of her brother, ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Kaewsun Atibhodhi, a member of the disbanded Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC), and Tul Sitthisomwong, leader of the anti-red-shirt Network of Citizen Volunteers Protecting the Land, recently demanded that the SEC probe the alleged irregularities of Ms Yingluck's cases, which were related to an order by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to seize 46 billion baht from Thaksin.

They had accused Ms Yingluck of making false transaction reports to the SEC following the court's verdict that she and three other people had held shares in Shin Corp and Ample Rich Investments on behalf of Thaksin and his ex-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, when he was prime minister.

In addition, they accused Ms Yingluck of making a false statement to the SEC that the Shinawatra family was not associated with two overseas investment funds and Win Mark Co, which together owned Shin Corp and SC Asset Plc. The SEC found, after she had made her statement, that Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman owned the funds and companies.

Regarding the shareholding in Shin Corp and Ample Rich, the SEC said the agency had lodged a complaint against Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman with the Department of Special Investigation on April 28, 2010, for making false transaction reports for the sale of Shin Corp shares in 2000, 2001 and 2006. However, the DSI and public prosecutors decided last year not to pursue the case.

The SEC noted that Ms Yingluck had not breached securities law by not filing reports on her shareholding transaction because she held less than 5 per cent of Shin Corp's total shares.

"The SEC has forwarded all evidence concerning the case to the DSI and the National Anti-Corruption Commission," it said in a statement.

Also, the SEC said that the charge that Ms Yingluck had made a false statement was beyond the scope of its authority to take action because it was not related to a listed company's financial status or share prices.

As for the alleged share concealment in SC Asset, the public prosecutors decided not to press any charges against any of the accused, and hence, the SEC would not pursue the case.

"But, if new evidence is found, the SEC is ready to reconsider the cases," it said.

Dr Tul yesterday said the SEC's statement was just another attempt by the agency to help conceal the Shinawatra family's alleged wrongdoings, he said.

"The SEC intentionally overlooked other acts which violated SEC law," he said.

The SEC's statement does not clear Ms Yingluck of the charges, he said.

Dr Tul said his network would lodge a complaint against Ms Yingluck with the DSI next Tuesday.

"We have evidence proving that Ms Yingluck breached SEC law," he said.

Dr Tul challenged the SEC to resign en masse if his network could prove Ms Yingluck committed the illegal acts.

Mr Kaewsun said the SEC's statement was not based on the letter of the law.

He said the SEC had not focused on his allegation that Ms Yingluck made false reports, but instead deflected the issue by saying that she was not required to report because she had owned less than 5% of the shares.

Source:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/242063/yingluck-in-the-clear-with-sec

Thăm dò dự luận trước bầu cử: Thái Lan sẵn sàng có nữ thủ tướng đầu tiên

Poll: Green light for first female PM

Bangkok Post

Published: 11/06/2011

A total of 63.47% of the respondents said they would accept the first female prime minister of Thailand, NIDA Poll reported on Saturday.

NIDA Poll recently conducted a survey on “Female’s Role in Politics”, seeking opinion from 1,338 people of all careers nationwide.

It found that 75.94% of the respondents agreed that female and male have the same competence.

In the meantime, 22.77% of them thought that more female’s roles in politics would help reduce the problem of corruption, according to NIDA Poll.

Source:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/241730/poll-green-light-for-first-female-pm

"Vì người Thái" lo ngại quân đội hơn đảng Dân chủ

Military promises put to test

ANALYSIS: Army's reassurances do little to comfort as Yingluck's rise suggests Thaksin's ouster pointless

Bangkok Post

Published: 13/06/2011

Despite the military's repeated assurances it will not interfere in the election, the rising popularity of Pheu Thai Party and its No.1 party list candidate Yingluck Shinawatra has had many speculating whether the armed forces will really keep their promise.

Last week's outburst by army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha against alleged intimidation of military members of the government anti-narcotics task force by a Pheu Thai election candidate and his aides has added to the jitters.

The military staged a coup on Sept 19, 2006, to overthrow Thaksin Shinawatra, Ms Yingluck's elder brother. If Pheu Thai wins the election and former prime minister Thaksin returns to Thailand through an amnesty, the power seizure _ in the view of those who engineered it _ would be tantamount to a total waste.

More importantly, those behind the coup could be possible targets of revenge from Thaksin, particularly Gen Prayuth who assisted former army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda, one of the key players behind the coup, on that day.

Although Thaksin has said he would not take revenge if he returns, it seems the armed forces are not convinced.

A number of unit commanders in the army have been reshuffled to consolidate the power of those behind the coup and officers behind the crackdowns of pro-Thaksin red shirt protesters on May 19 last year.

While several opinion polls show the popularity of Pheu Thai and Ms Yingluck is rising, political observers are keen to see how the military will react.

Although Gen Prayuth has assured that soldiers will not get involved in politics, last week's comments by Chartthaipattana leader Chumpol Silpa-archa about the role of an "irresistible power" in the formation of the present government has placed the military once more in the spotlight.

Mr Chumpol has said his party actually did not want to join the Democrat Party in forming the present coalition, but it was forced to by this "irresistible power". He did not elaborate on who this power was.

Armed forces leaders, including Gen Prayuth, reportedly invited many politicians for a talk at the 1st Infantry Regiment to lobby them to support the Democrat-led government in December 2007. Both the military and the Democrat Party have vehemently denied this.

Gen Prayuth recently emphasised the military will remain neutral.

He has prohibited soldiers from participating in counting votes, transporting ballot boxes and acting as polling station committee members.

He has allowed them to guard polling stations and also permit all parties to campaign in army camps.

"I assure that the formation of a government in a military camp will not occur," he said.

In many quarters, however, the movements of some armed forces' agencies are being closely monitored, especially that of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), chaired by the prime minister.

Gen Prayuth is the deputy Isoc director and plays an active role in commanding the agency together with army chief-of-staff Dapong Rattanasuwan, who is Isoc secretary-general.

Gen Dapong is a classmate of Gen Prayuth from Class 12 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School. Many Class 12 friends hold executive positions at the Isoc agency, which is viewed as the army's secret operations mechanism.

Isoc has reportedly assigned agents to monitor party campaigns to collect evidence of electoral fraud.

Rallies in which red shirt leaders participate are prime targets.

Isoc has also deployed 17,000 soldiers to all regions. Officially they are implementing vocational training projects for villagers, but simultaneously are trying to prevent political canvassers from buying votes.

The project focuses on the North and the Northeast, which are the political strongholds of the Pheu Thai Party.

However, some soldiers admitted that it was difficult to convince local people not to support Pheu Thai.

"We never try to convince residents to hate Thaksin or Pheu Thai, or slander the red shirts," said one soldier.

There is also a concern soldiers have been ordered to vote for a particular party.

"I have not received any such order," said one unit commander. "Even with such an order, we can't absolutely control the voting of soldiers."

Source:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/241893/military-promises-put-to-test

Ứng cử viên Yingluck chịu sức ép lớn

Văn phòng Chưởng lý cho hay cơ quan này sẽ thực hiện nghiêm túc theo pháp luật nếu họ tìm đủ chứng cứ chứng minh lời khai man trước tòa chống lại ứng cử viên của đảng Vì người Thái Yinglick Shinawatra.

 

Pressure mounts on Yingluck

Perjury claim 'a smear tactic'; may be illegal

Bangkok Post

Published: 8/06/2011

The Office of the Attorney-General says it will act strictly according to law if it finds enough evidence to proceed in a perjury case against Pheu Thai party list candidate Yingluck Shinawatra.

KaewsunAtibhodhi,a formermemberof the disbandedAssets ScrutinyCommittee, left,andTul Sitthisomwong,leader of the anti-red shirt Network of Citizen Volunteers Protecting the Land, petition the Senateto followupthe four cases related to the seizure of ousted primeministerThaksin Shinawatra’s assets. THITIWANNAMONTHA

Deputy Attorney-General Waiyawut Lortrakul said yesterday it was not the duty of the public prosecution to handle the case immediately.

He was speaking after Kaewsun Atibhodhi, a former member of the disbanded Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC), and Tul Sitthisomwong, leader of the anti-red shirt Network of Citizen Volunteers Protecting the Land, prepare to ask all relevant agencies to follow up on the cases related to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's 46 billion baht assets seizure case.

The perjury case against Ms Yingluck is related to the assets seizure case, in which Ms Yingluck, Thaksin's youngest sister, testified as a defence witness.

The assets seizure case is among many cases brought against Thaksin by the defunct ASC. All of them have been transferred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

Meanwhile... Pheu Thai tries to keep Yingluck's star polished

Mr Waiyawut said the NACC should take up the perjury case first.

He said any cases related to the assets seizure case should be sent to and handled by investigators.

The Network of Citizen Volunteers Protecting the Land met the Department of Special Investigation's chief Tharit Pengdit last Friday to ask the DSI to check into the allegations against Ms Yingluck. The group will lodge a complaint against Ms Yingluck on June 21.

"If the case is eventually referred to the OAG for indictment, we are ready to do our duty," Mr Waiyawut said.

Mr Kaewsun and Mr Tul yesterday filed a petition with a Senate committee on monitoring corruption and promotion of good governance, asking the committee to follow up the four cases related to an order by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to seize 46-billion-baht from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Sumol Sutwiriyawat, deputy chairman of the Senate committee, received the petition.

In the petition, the Senate committee has been asked to follow up on the work of the NACC, the OAG, and the Securities and Exchange Commission involving four cases related to the Supreme Court's order to seize Thaksin's assets.

In the Thaksin assets seizure case, the Supreme Court ruled that Thaksin and his ex-wife Potjaman na Pombejra concealed their Shin Corp shares and controlled the shares through proxies - their adult children and other relatives including Yingluck Shinawatra, the No.1 Pheu Thai party list candidate, who held 20 million baht in shares on Thaksin's behalf.

Of the four related cases, the first was on Thaksin's false statement given to the NACC; the second on false statements given by Thaksin's ex-wife, children and relatives to the SEC; the third on Shin Corp's false transaction reports to the SEC; and the fourth on Thaksin's alleged abuse of power to enrich Shin Corp.

Mr Kaewsun said he wanted the Senate committee to ask the NACC, SEC and OAG how much progress had been made in the four cases.

Meanwhile, Ms Yingluck said yesterday that she was ready to testify to clear up the allegation of perjury related to the court's seizure of 46.37 billion baht of her brother Thaksin's assets.

She said she was prepared to come under public scrutiny over the matter.

"I am ready to clear the accusation under the rule of law. I will exercise patience and will provide all facts to the general public," she said after making merit at Wat Phra That Phanom in Nakhon Phanom yesterday morning.

She is campaigning today in the northeastern province.

Ms Yingluck was responding to the announcement by Mr Kaewsan that he would launch a signature campaign at Thammasat University on June 18 to ask people to file complaints against her over charges of perjury related to the case.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the move by Mr Kaewsun to launch a signature campaign on Facebook and at Thammasat University on June 18 to ask people to file complaints against Ms Yingluck over charges of perjury is intended to dissuade voters from voting for Pheu Thai in the July 3 general election.

Mr Prompong said Mr Kaewsun's action could violate the election law, prompting Pheu Thai to file a complaint against him with the Crime Suppression Division and to ask the Election Commission to look into the matter today.

Deputy Prime Minister and Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday criticised supporters of the red shirt movement for trying to disrupt vote campaigns by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

On Monday, red shirt supporters heckled Mr Abhisit during his campaigning by raising the issue of the 92 people, most of them red shirts, who were killed in the clashes between red shirts and the military in April and May last year.

Mr Suthep said well-organised efforts had been made to distort the information.

Source:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/241094/pressure-mounts-on-yingluck

Ngân hàng Trung ương Thái Lan: các chính sách dân túy sẽ gây tổn hại cho nền kinh tế

BoT: Populist policies could hurt economy

Bangkok Post
Published: 7/06/2011

The populist policies proposed by many political parties to win grassroots votes could in turn derail the recovering economy, Bank of Thailand governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul warned on Tuesday.

Promises of major financing for various measures to buy voters' hearts could result in higher inflation and increased public debt.

If there were any problems with these two indicators, the country’s economic stability would be affected, he said.

"I admit that I am worried about these two economic indicators. If you ask me which one has the more negative impact, I could only say that they have similar effects as these two problems are correlated," Mr Prasarn said.

However, he was not too much concerned about the problems of high inflation and public debt at the moment because it was not certain that the next government would really introduce the promised policies.

Bank of Thailand governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul

This would be known only when the new administration announces its policies to the general public, he said.

The central bank chief also denied any knowledge of media reports that about 10 billion baht cash is missing from the total amount of money in circulation and is suspected of being used to fund vote buying.

He said the BoT did not alert the Royal Thai Police Office that an amount of money has disappeared from circulation, as reported by the media.

It would not be easy to prove that about 10 billion baht really was missing because it amounted to less than one per cent of the total 1.1 trillion baht in circulation.

Only if specific information was provided, such as where the money was missing from, could the BoT track where the money had apparently gone, said Mr Prasarn.

Several online media reports quoted Northeastern Chamber of Commerce secretary-general Thawisan Lonanurak as saying he suspected the missing money was being used to buy votes, particularly in the Northeast where the race to win the July 3 election was intense.

Mr Thawisan said it was estimated that between 200 and 300 million baht would be circulated in each of the 375 election constituencies nationwide during the election.

This estimation was based on information he had obtained that each canvasser was being paid 10,000 baht or more and each voter would get at least 1,000 baht.

One election constituency had about 120,000 voters, he said. Therefore at least 100 million baht of vote buying money would be handed out by election candidates in each constituency.

National police chief Wichean Potephosree also dismissed the reports of the missing 10 billion baht, saying the Royal Thai Police Office had not been alerted about the missing money as reported.

Previously, on May 24, Thai-language news outlets reported that BoT assistant governor Sorasit Suntornkes said about 10 billion baht in cash had disappeared from circulation ahead of the election.

Mr Sorasit immediately denied that he made any public comment on this topic.

Sources indicated he had been overheard by reporters while making private comments to someone else.

 

Source:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/241057/bot-policies-could-damage-economy

Thái Lan sẽ không rút quân khỏi khu vực tranh chấp nếu Tòa án Công lý Quốc tế yêu cầu

Thailand set to defy any border order

MINISTER SAYS ICJ HAS NO AUTHORITY TO RULE

Bangkok Post

Published: 5/06/2011

SINGAPORE : Thailand is set to defy any order by the International Court of Justice to withdraw troops from the border area disputed with Cambodia.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said yesterday that the ICJ had "no authority" to issue such an order and Thailand would not comply should one be issued.

The minister's comments come as the ICJ deliberates Cambodia's requests for a reinterpretation of the court's 1962 ruling which favoured Cambodia, and to order Thailand to withdraw troops and cease all military activity near Preah Vihear temple, situated inside the 4.6 square kilometre disputed area.

The UN's highest court is expected to rule on troop withdrawal early next month.

"Thailand will respect the ICJ's decision, but the body has no authority to order Thai troops to retreat. Thai soldiers won't step back from our territory," Gen Prawit said on the sidelines of the three-day Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore.

The dialogue is an inter-governmental security forum held every year by London's International Institute for Strategic Studies and assisted by the Singaporean Defence Ministry. It is considered the most important security forum in the Asia-Pacific region.

Gen Prawit said Thailand would only withdraw forces from the disputed area if the ICJ orders Cambodia to do likewise.

The defence minister's stance was backed by acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn, who also attended the security forum.

"The ICJ has no authority to force Thailand to withdraw troops," Mr Panitan said.

If the court demands Thai troops leave the area and Thailand refuses to comply, Mr Panitan said he believes Cambodia would take the case to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

The UNSC is responsible for enforcing ICJ orders when a subject country refuses to comply with them.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said upon returning on Thursday from a two-day ICJ oral hearing in the Hague that the court has no enforcement power, but as a good UN member country, Thailand would comply with its decision.

Mr Kasit also said earlier that if the ICJ ordered Thailand to withdraw troops, it should order Cambodia to do the same.

The Thai-Cambodian border row has been raised at the high-profile Asian defence forum, attended by top security officials from almost 30 nations, including the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom and China.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said in his keynote address on Friday that the region had high hopes for an imminent resolution.

"With Thailand and Cambodia currently at the Hague, our region knows only too well how deadly such clashes can be," Mr Najib said.

"Of course, difficulties between neighbours will flare up from time to time but, in our region, significant progress has in fact been made in settling some of these disputes over the years."

Mr Najib said he hoped that all border disputes could be resolved in the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation.

Indonesian Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro told the Bangkok Post that domestic political problems in Thailand and Cambodia were partly to blame for the slow progress in resolving the conflict.

Gen Prawit said the General Border Committee (GBC) meeting was the best mechanism to resolve the spat.

However, prospects of a GBC meeting, originally scheduled for this month, look rather dim as Thailand and Cambodia failed to agree on the deployment of an Indonesian observation team.

The two sides agreed at the Asean foreign ministers' meeting in Jakarta to accept Indonesian observers to monitor the ceasefire at the border on Feb 22, but the deployment was delayed because Thailand demanded Cambodian soldiers and residents be withdrawn from the disputed area first.

Source:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/240596/thailand-set-to-defy-any-border-order

Bị chỉ trích, Thủ tướng Thái Lan chê Thứ trưởng Ngoại giao Malaysia không hiểu vấn đề

PM: Malaysia doesn't understand the border conflict

Bangkok Post
Published: 10/05/2011

Malaysia's Deputy Foreign Minister Richard Riot Jaem does not understand the situation on the Thai-Cambodian border and his criticism is misplaced, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday.

Mr Riot yesterday blamed Bangkok for the clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops along the disputed border near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, and said Thailand "did not adhere to the agreement".

"The Malaysian deputy foreign minister may not understand the border situation because there was a tripartite meeting between Thai, Cambodian and Indonesian foreign ministers last night (May 9) and the issue was settled," Mr Abhisit said.

PM Abhisit Vejjajiva (Photo by Pattanapong Hirunard)

He said Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya would return to Thailand today and would report on the result of the meeting to the cabinet next week.

"Thailand's stance remains the same. If Cambodia doesn't withdraw its troops from the disputed border area, no [Indonesian] observers will be sent there," the prime minister said.

Meanwhile, the 2nd Army command has asked the customs office to slow down the export of fuel and other strategic products to Cambodia that the Cambodian military could use to support their troops in operations against Thai forces along the disputed border.

The go-slow should continue until the border situation really returns to normal, according to the 2nd Army order obtained and published by the local media today.

The order is intended for the customs office at the Chong Chom immigration checkpoint in Surin’s Kap Choeng district.

It asked the customs office to request the cooperation of traders in slowing deliveries of fuel, natural gas and other products which could be used by Cambodian troops opposing the Thai forces.

This morning, the number of Cambodian people crossing the border to buy food products at the Thai fresh market near the Chong Chom checkpoint was lower than normal. The market was only recently re-opened after being closed because of the fighting on the Cambodian border in Surin and Buri Ram.

A number of Thai tourists crossed the frontier into Cambodia today. Most were seen headed to a casino not far away.

Although most shops at another market near the checkpoint have also reopened, the number of both Thai and Cambodian shoppers was not as high as it used to be.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/236271/pm-malaysia-lacks-understanding