Week 47 (19th November 2012 – 25th November 2012)

ASEAN Newspapers Issues pertaining to Thailand ‐ politics

Number of article(s): 11

Keywords/criteria used for search: Thailand, Thai

Search Engine: www.google.com

Online newspapers included in search: Borneo Bulletin (Brunei) Brunei Times (Brunei) Phnom Penh Post (Cambodia) Jakarta Post (Indonesia) Jakarta Globe (Indonesia) Vientiane Times (Laos) Vietnam Net (Vietnam) Nhan Dan (Vietnam) The Star (Malaysia) The New Straits Times (Malaysia) The Strait Times (Singapore) The Philippine Inquirer (Philippines) The Japan Times (Japan) China Daily (China) The China Post (China)

Headlines and Summaries

BRUNEI TIMES 6

25 /N OV. / 2012 ­ TEAR GAS FIRED TO DISPERSE PROTESTERS SEEKING TO OVERTHROW THAI GOV’T (REUTERS – ALSO PUBLISHED IN THE STAR) 6 ‐ Royalist Pitak Siam group, who has attracted the support of yellow‐ shirted members of the PAD, held demonstrations last Saturday. ‐ Authorities had deployed 17,000 police at the rally site and the government invoked the Internal Security Act that allowed police to detain protesters and carry out security checks and set up roadblocks. ‐ Thailand has seen frequent bloody street protests in recent years including a rally that lasted more than two months by supporters of the present government in 2010. Those protests sparked a military crackdown that left at least 91 people dead and more than 1,700 injured. 23 /N OV. / 2012 ­ SECURITY TIGHTENED IN THAI CAPITAL FOR ANTI­GOV’T RALLY (REUTERS) 7 ‐ Thailand’s police chief stated yesterday that he would deploy approx. 17,000 officers to prevent violence at an anti‐government rally schedule for the weekend. ‐ The rally could lead to another period of unrest in Thailand, which has seen bloody street protests in recent years. ‐ Some 50,000 protesters were expected to gather near the Thai parliament in Bangkok. ‐ The Internal Security Act has been invoked in areas where the protest will take place. PM Yingluck said that in invoking the law, she had acted to protect democracy.

THE BORNEO BULLETIN 8

23 /N OV. / 2012 ­ THAILAND STEPS UP SECURITY FOR BANGKOK DEMO (AFP) 8 ‐ Thai government has invoked ISA in order to cope with political rally organized by Pitak Siam, set for the weekend. The security law enables the government to prevent the use of certain routes or vehicles, impose a curfew, ban gatherings, carry out searches of buildings and censor the media. ‐ According to National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabut, “Based on our intelligence, the rally will be intense with a huge turnout of protesters,". ‐ Politically turbulent Thailand has been rocked by a series of sometimes violent rival street protests in recent years, although an uneasy calm has returned after national elections in 2011. ‐ In 2010, two months of mass opposition protests by "Red Shirt" supporters of ousted premier sparked a deadly military crackdown that left about 90 people dead and nearly 1,900 wounded.

2 THE PHNOM PENH POST 9

25 /N OV. / 2012 ­ CAMBODIA’S GOVERNMENT SLAMS THAI MEDIA 9 ‐ A quote on ASTV online from activist Somkiet Phongphaiboon, a supporter of the “yellow‐shirt movement” that opposes the current Thai administration, said there were thousands of Cambodians who are receiving money from the Cambodian government to act as anti‐ demonstration brawlers. ‐ This sparked a response from Cambodia’s Press and Quick Reaction Unit who rejected the quote in the Thai media report.

THE JAKARTA POST 10

24 /N OV. / 2012 – THAI ANTI­GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS RALLY IN BANGKOK (AP) 10 ‐ The rally was mostly peaceful in its early stages. However police fired tear gas to disperse some 50‐100 people who tried to break through a line of concrete barricades erected on a street near the protest site. ‐ Thai Prime Minister ordered nearly 17,000 officers to deploy and special security law to be invoked, citing concerns that the rally could turn violent. ‐ Saturday's protest was organized by a royalist group calling itself "Pitak Siam" ‐ or "Protect Thailand." Led by retired army Gen. Boonlert Kaewprasit, the group accuses Yingluck's administration of corruption, ignoring insults to the revered monarchy and being a puppet of Thaksin. ‐ Analysts said they did not view the protest as an immediate threat to Yingluck's government, but were watching it closely.

THE STRAIT TIMES 12

25 /N OV. / 2012 – THAI PM FACES NO CONFIDENCE MOTION AMID POLITICIAL PROTESTS (AFP – ALSO PUBLISHED IN THE BRUNEI TIMES AND THE INQUIRER) 12 ‐ The motions, which also targets three other government ministers, appeared to have little chance of being passed by a legislature dominated by Yingluck's Puea Thai party and its coalition partners. ‐ Criticizing the Prime Minister, Democrat Party opposition MP, Jurin Laksanavisit, said "The prime minister has failed to govern this country as promised. She allows corruption," and added "She also allows outside people to influence her and control her administration," in a thinly veiled reference to the PM’s brother, ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

THE NEW STRAITS TIMES 12

22 /N OV. / 2012 ­ THAI GOVT IMPOSES ISA FOR NOV 24 RALLY IN BANGKOK 12 ‐ According to PM’s Office Minister, Warathep Rattanakorn, the ISA would cover Pranakorn, Dusit an d Pomprabsattrupai districts which are close to the Royal Plaza, venue for the rally. ‐ At a previous rally on 28th Oct., organizer Pitak Siam, led by Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, claimed 20,000 protesters attended that rally but police estimated the figure close to 7,000 only, still more than the government's initial projection.

3 THE STAR 13

25 /N OV. / 2012 – SUMMITS MORE THAN JUST PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES 13 ‐ According to the article, the Thai PM remains very photogenic, maybe too photogenic. Recent summit in Phnom Penh has proved that summits are not about photo‐ops alone. According to the article, they are about substance, policies, the future of the region. To this, Thailand’s recent contribution to the summit held in Phnom Penh was not discernible. ‐ Furthermore, PM Yingluck is criticized for turning international conferences and summits into a session of reading English text and fails to be able to articulate her points in English. The has previously stated that it is not necessary for the Thai leader to speak English because it is the quality of leadership and the substance that counts. However, the previous summits and conferences has not showed any of these qualities. ‐ As leader of Thailand, her role is to ensure that the country can benefit from bilateral or multilateral talks. However her articulations and comments at international conferences and summits have for the most part been throwaway ones. Unfortunately, according to this particularly article, the most memorable quote turned out to be her wish to bring “a woman’s touch to addressing” the South China Sea disputes.” ‐ The article ends by stating that a leader does not always have to be serious. However the PM has been too “playful” for too long. She has to get serious now, or Thailand should get the right person to fill the void.

THE JAPAN TIMES 14

21 /N OV. / 2012 ­ NO END IN SIGHT TO THAILAND'S POST­THAKSIN CRISIS 14 ‐ According to Pavin Chachavalpongpun, the recent cabinet reshuffle (for the third time in a year) showed more Thaksinites than the previous reshuffles, signifying a growing confidence on the part of Thaksin who is believed to be the real mover behind the current government. ‐ In the past year, the government has been effective in implementing its electoral promises while lifting the nation’s economy. This has given way to the possibility of the Yingluck administration to be able to serve its full term, thus infuriating its opponents. ‐ To weaken the government, opponents have launched the tactics of street protests to discredit Yingluck while calling for military intervention. ‐ The relationship between the government and the military has been uneasy one. Under pressure by its supporters to bring to justice those responsible for deaths of red shirts during the clashes in 2010, the government first sought to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court yet has shelved it to avoid confrontation with the military. ‐ The military has also been silent on the recent antigovernment demonstrations. According to Pavin, the shrewd position of the army is understandable. While the Yingluck government still poses a threat to the military and the political position of the monarchy, staging another coup would be too devastating. ‐ In the end, Pavin speculates if the military has assumed two roles. One is to cooperate with the government on key issues, ranging from reconciliation, amnesty and even the improvement of Thai‐Cambodian

4 relations. The other is to discreetly endorse the moves by the antigovernment forces in undermining the Yingluck regime.

CHINA DAILY 16

24 /N OV. / 2012 ­ THAI ANTI­GOVT PROTESTS CLASH WITH POLICE 16 ‐ In the recent antigovernment demonstration organized by Pitak Siam, Opposition Democrat Party on Saturday condemned the government for having police fire tear gas at anti‐government demonstrators. ‐ More than 100 anti‐government protesters have been detained for interrogation after the clash with police Saturday morning, authority said. ‐ About 500 anti‐government protesters clashed with police Saturday morning, cut barbed wires and drive truck to hit barricade and riot police, causing the injuries to 10 people, including police and protesters. 22 /N OV. / 2012 – CHINA, THAILAND SIGN RICE DEAL 17 ‐ A rice deal signed during Premier Wen Jiabao's official visit to Thailand took immediate effect, as the Chinese private sector bought 260,000 tons of rice worth about 7 billion baht ($228 million) from Thailand. ‐ The memorandum was not a government‐to‐government contract on rice purchasing as widely understood, but an intergovernmental instrument to boost the rice trade, a senior official said. ‐ The rice deal with China was the most‐watched agenda item during Wen's visit because the Thai government had faced accusations from an opposition party and academics that its rice price policies damaged the domestic market and led to the decline of Thai rice trading.

5 Brunei Times

25 / Nov. / 2012 ‐ Tear gas fired to disperse protesters seeking to overthrow Thai gov’t (Reuters – Also published in the Star)

THAI police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of anti‐government protesters who pushed through barriers and clashed with security forces yesterday as thousands gathered seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government.

The royalist Pitak Siam group, led by retired military general Boonlert Kaewprasit, accuses Yingluck's government of corruption and being a puppet of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's brother.

It has attracted the support of yellow‐shirted members of the People's Alliance for Democracy who helped destabilize and topple governments led or backed by Thaksin in 2006 and 2008.

Thaksin remains a deeply divisive figure in Thailand. He was ousted in a 2006 military‐backed coup and fled the country in 2008 shortly before being found guilty of abuse of power.

"If I can't overthrow this government, I am prepared to die," Boonlert told supporters in Thai. In English, he said: "The world will see this corrupted and cruel government. The world can see the government under a puppet."

At least seven police were wounded and up to 132 protesters arrested in a clash near the UN Asia‐Pacific headquarters, a stone's throw away from the main rally site.

Authorities have deployed 17,000 police at the rally site and the government has invoked the Internal Security Act allowing police to detain protesters and carry out security checks and set up roadblocks.

Police say they have seized various weapons, including knives and bullets, from among the 9,000 gathered at the site.

"We used tear gas because protesters were blocking police and did not comply with the security measures we put in place," police spokesman Piya Uthaya told a local TV station.

Thailand has seen frequent bloody street protests in recent years including a rally that lasted more than two months by supporters of the present government in 2010. Those protests sparked a military crackdown that left at least 91 people dead and more than 1,700 injured.

6 "At this stage, the government is more a threat to itself. If it overreacts using an army of policemen that's going to enrage demonstrators and things could get out of control," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political analyst at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

"The use of tear gas is a bad omen and conjures images of the 2008 anti‐ government protesters who forced their way into government house and parliament."

The protest highlights tensions that have been simmering since Yingluck's Puea Thai party swept to victory in July 2011.

Protesters held signs with pictures of Yingluck including one bearing the caption "PM Puppet Moron" as others waved yellow flags associated with the royal family. "I'm telling Thaksin that if he wants to return to Thailand, he needs to bow before the king and serve his prison sentence," Boonlert told the demonstrators.

Thailand has seen a series of poitical protests since 2006 with pro‐Thaksin and anti‐Thaksin groups taking turns to challenge various administrations' right to rule. Reuters http://www.bt.com.bn/news‐asia/2012/11/25/tear‐gas‐fired‐disperse‐ protesters‐seeking‐overthrow‐thai‐govt

23 / Nov. / 2012 ‐ Security Tightened in Thai Capital for anti‐gov’t rally (Reuters)

THAILAND'S police chief said yesterday he would deploy almost 17,000 officers to prevent violence at an anti‐government rally on the weekend, after the government invoked a special security law saying democracy was under threat.

The rally could herald another period of unrest in Thailand, which has seen frequent bloody street protests in recent years, including a rally lasting more than two months by supporters of the present government in 2010, which was put down by the army.

At least 50,000 protesters are expected to gather near parliament in the capital, Bangkok, today, Police Chief Adul Saengsingkaew told a news conference.

The government's decision to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) in the area of the protest site will allow the police to ban gatherings at sensitive government locations and gives them more power to arrest people on public order grounds.

"This ISA is not in place to disperse the rally or stop it from happening but to make sure the rally takes place peacefully. It is a protective measure to make sure the demonstration runs smoothly," Adul said.

7

In a televised statement on Thursday, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said that in invoking the law, she had acted to protect democracy.

"If a large number of people are mobilised by incitement, led by those who seek to overthrow an elected government and democratic rule .... and there is evidence that violence may be used to achieve those ends, then this is a case of national security," Yingluck said.

The group behind the protest, Pitak Siam, is led by retired general Boonlert Kaewprasit. The group held a first rally on Oct. 28, attracting 7,000 supporters according to the police but 20,000 according to the organisers.

It says Yingluck heads a puppet government controlled by her brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, from self‐imposed exile in Dubai. He was ousted by the military in 2006 and fled the country in 2008 shortly before being found guilty of abuse of power.

Thaksin remains a divisive figure in Thailand, with opponents accusing him of corruption and republicanism, even though both he and Yingluck have expressed support for the constitutional monarchy.

Thaksin is adored by the poor because of health and welfare policies during his time as prime minister.

Yingluck's Puea Thai party swept to victory in a general election in July 2011 and the country has since enjoyed a period of relative calm, even though it remains politically fractured between the pro‐ and anti‐Thaksin camps. Reuters

http://www.bt.com.bn/news‐asia/2012/11/24/security‐tightened‐thai‐capital‐ anti‐govt‐rally

The Borneo Bulletin

23 / Nov. / 2012 ‐ Thailand steps up security for Bangkok demo (AFP)

BANGKOK (AFP) ‐ Thailand on Thursday invoked a special security law to cope with a political rally this weekend in Bangkok, the scene of several outbreaks of violent unrest in recent years. Police expect tens of thousands of people to attend Saturday's rally at the Royal Plaza. The demo is organised by the royalist group Pitak Siam, which opposes Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government. The Internal Security Act (ISA) will be enforced in three districts of the capital's historic quarter for nine days, officials said after the cabinet approved the measure.

8 "Based on our intelligence, the rally will be intense with a huge turnout of protesters," National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabut told reporters. The security law enables the government to prevent the use of certain routes or vehicles, impose a curfew, ban gatherings, carry out searches of buildings and censor the media. Nearly 17,000 police will be deployed for the demo, according to officials. It will be the first major street protest against Yingluck's 16‐month‐old government. "Security agencies report that violence might erupt which would result in damage to lives and property," said Varathep Rattanakorn, minister to the prime minister's office. Politically turbulent Thailand has been rocked by a series of sometimes violent rival street protests in recent years, although an uneasy calm has returned after national elections in 2011. Two months of mass opposition protests in 2010 by "Red Shirt" supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra sparked a deadly military crackdown that left about 90 people dead and nearly 1,900 wounded. The unrest happened under a previous establishment‐backed government that was swept from power last year by allies of Thaksin, whose sister Yingluck is now prime minister. http://www.borneobulletin.com.bn/fri/nov23w9.htm

The Phnom Penh Post

25 / Nov. / 2012 ‐ Cambodia’s government slams Thai media

Cambodia has flatly rejected a quote in a Thai media report that ex‐Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra called on some 5,000 Cambodians to sow chaos during a short‐lived but violent rally on Saturday aimed at toppling the Thai government.

The protests, which brought out thousands of Thais in clashes that petered out the same day they started, called for the ouster of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who is Thaksin’s sister.

What sparked a response from Cambodia’s Press and Quick Reaction Unit was a quote on ASTV online from activist Somkiet Phongphaiboon, a supporter of the “yellow‐shirt movement” that opposes the current administration.

According to the statement, Somkiet said there are thousands of Cambodians who are receiving money from the Cambodian government to act as anti‐ demonstration brawlers.

“The PRU categorically protests and demands the Thai media such as ASTV to immediately put an end to the practice of such dirty and poisonous policy and

9 evil tactic by using Cambodian as scapegoat,” said the statement.

The rally by the Pitak Siam, or protect Thailand group, was called off after an initially peaceful demonstration turned ugly when clashes with the police occurred. http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012112659932/National‐ news/cambodias‐government‐slams‐thai‐media.html

The Jakarta Post

24 / Nov. / 2012 – Thai anti‐government protesters rally in Bangkok (AP)

Anti‐government protesters calling for Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down launched a rally in Bangkok on Saturday that authorities feared would grow into the biggest demonstration the country has seen since she took office last year. The rally, which was expected to draw tens of thousands of protesters, was mostly peaceful in its early stages. Police, however, fired tear gas to disperse between 50 to 100 people who tried to break through a line of concrete barricades erected on a street near the protest site. Earlier in the week, Yingluck ordered nearly 17,000 police to deploy and invoked a special security law, citing concerns that the rally could turn violent. She also accused demonstrators of seeking to overthrow her elected government. The demonstration underscores the still‐simmering political divisions that have split the country since the army toppled Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra in a 2006 military coup. Saturday's protest was organized by a royalist group calling itself "Pitak Siam" ‐ or "Protect Thailand." Led by retired army Gen. Boonlert Kaewprasit, the group accuses Yingluck's administration of corruption, ignoring insults to the revered monarchy and being a puppet of Thaksin. Addressing several thousand protesters on the rally's central stage on Saturday, Boonlert vowed the demonstration would remain peaceful. But he said: "I promise that Pitak Siam will succeed in driving this government out." He then led the crowd in a chant: "Yingluck, get out! Yingluck, get out!" The rally was being held at Bangkok's Royal Plaza, a public space near Parliament that has been used by protesters in the past. Police allowed protesters into the site, and two roads leading to it were open. But in an effort to control access, security forces erected concrete barriers on another road leading to Royal Plaza. When between 50 to 100 protesters tried to break through one of the barriers, a contingent of around 500 police fired tear gas and beat them back with batons. While Pitak Siam is a newcomer to Thailand's protest scene, it is linked to the well‐known "Yellow Shirt" protesters, whose rallies led to Thaksin's overthrow. The same movement later toppled a Thaksin‐allied elected government after occupying and shutting down Bangkok's two airports for a week in 2008.

10 Thaksin remains a divisive figure in Thai politics. The Yellow Shirts and their allies say he is personally corrupt and accuse him of seeking to undermine the popular constitutional monarch ‐ charges Thaksin denies. Yingluck was taking Saturday's rally seriously. Her Cabinet invoked the Internal Security Act on Thursday in three Bangkok districts around the protest site, and she later addressed the nation to explain the move, citing concerns of violence. The security act allows authorities to close roads, impose curfews and ban use of electronic devices in designated areas. Measures began taking effect Thursday night, with police closing roads around Yingluck's office, the Government House, and placing extra security at the homes of senior officials, including the prime minister. In a nationally televised address Thursday, Yingluck said protest leaders "seek to overthrow an elected government and democratic rule ... and there is evidence that violence may be used to achieve those ends." National police chief spokesman Maj. Gen. Piya Uthayo said Friday that 16,800 police officers had been called in from around the country to provide security for the rally. Boonlert, the protest group's leader, is best known for his role as president of the Thailand Boxing Association. His name is unfamiliar in the anti‐Thaksin protest movement, but his message appears to have resonated with Yellow Shirt supporters who have laid low in recent years after Yingluck's party won the last elections. Analysts said they did not view the protest as an immediate threat to Yingluck's government, but were watching it closely. "Anytime you have tens of thousands of people converging, assembling in a central Bangkok location, it becomes a government stability concern," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. But he added: "I think it's a serious concern more than a serious threat." Thailand has been gripped by bouts of political instability since 2006, with Thaksin's supporters and opponents taking turns to spar over who has the right to rule the country. The most violent episode came in 2010, when Thaksin's "Red Shirt" supporters led a two‐month occupation of central Bangkok to demand the resignation of an anti‐Thaksin government. The protests sparked a military crackdown that left at least 91 people dead and more than 1,700 injured. Thaksin has lived in self‐imposed exile since 2008, when he jumped bail to evade a corruption conviction and two‐year jail term. He retains huge popularity among the rural poor, who want to see him pardoned and returned to power. But he is reviled by the urban elite and educated middle class, who see him as authoritarian and a threat to the monarchy. Buoyed by Thaksin's political machine, Yingluck was elected by a landslide victory in August 2011. She initially was criticized for her lack of political experience ‐ she was an executive in Shinawatra family businesses ‐ but has won praise for leading the country through one of its longest peaceful periods in recent years.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/11/24/thai‐anti‐government‐ protesters‐rally‐bangkok.html

11

The Strait Times

25 / Nov. / 2012 – Thai PM faces no confidence motion amid politicial protests (AFP – Also published in the Brunei Times and The Inquirer)

BANGKOK (AFP) ‐ Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today faced a no‐ confidence debate launched by her opponents in parliament, a day after political protests turned violent in Bangkok. But the motions, which also target three other government ministers, appeared to have little chance of being passed by a legislature dominated by Yingluck's Puea Thai party and its coalition partners. "The prime minister has failed to govern this country as promised. She allows corruption," Democrat Party opposition MP Jurin Laksanavisit said at the start of the debate, which is scheduled to last for three days. "She also allows outside people to influence her and control her administration," he added, in a thinly veiled reference to Ms Yingluck's brother, ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking‐news/se‐asia/story/thai‐pm‐faces‐no‐ confidence‐motion‐20121125

The New Straits Times

22 / Nov. / 2012 ‐ Thai govt imposes ISA for Nov 24 rally in Bangkok

Prime Minister's Office Minister Warathep Rattanakorn said the ISA would cover Pranakorn, Dusit and Pomprabsattrupai districts which are close to the Royal Plaza, venue for the rally.

"The National Security Council has informed the Prime Minister (Yingluck Shinawatra) that they have information that violence may occur during the rally," he said.

The imposition of ISA, among others, allows the mobilization of soldiers in helping police to control the security situation in the areas.

Pitak Siam planned the Saturday rally in a move to pressure the government to step down and police planned to mobilize 50,000 policemen in controlling security during the rally.

12 The anti‐government group staged its first rally on Oct 28 which attracted a large number of protesters beyond the government initial estimation of a few thousand only.

The group, led by Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, claimed 20,000 protesters attended that rally but police estimated the figure close to 7,000 only, still more than the government's initial projection. Bernama

http://www.nst.com.my/latest/thai‐govt‐imposes‐isa‐for‐nov‐24‐rally‐in‐ bangkok‐1.175124#ixzz2DRHYG8Zh

The Star

25 / Nov. / 2012 – Summits more than just photo opportunities

BANGKOK: When Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra enters a camera’s frame, she is very photogenic. She was the centre of attention at the Asean summit meetings. Unfortunately, the summits are not about photo‐ops alone. They are about substance, policies, the future of the region. Thailand’s contribution in Phnom Penh was not discernible. What she said did not seem to gain any interest. No one quoted her. Indeed, Yingluck has turned the art of diplomacy into sessions for reading English text. But the ability to communicate in English is not the point. Many world leaders choose to speak their own language, if that allows them to express their thoughts and ideas more effectively. Yingluck, however, fails to articulate her points in English. She should have used the Thai language and a translator, to make her feel at ease with the text. She insisted on using English. Something is very wrong in the conduct of Thai diplomacy. The Pheu Thai Party has continually stated that it is not necessary for the Thai leader to speak English because it is the quality of leadership and the substance that counts. That is true. However, judging from the latest summit, neither of these qualities came to the fore in Cambodia. It is not surprising that the international media, including the Cambodian press, did not notice any of her comments, or for that matter, any from the Thai delegation. Views from Thailand used to get more attention. Thailand used to be more influential in shaping the direction of regional cooperation. As a leading Asean member, what a Thai leader said mattered. Now, it is a different story. The government must revise its diplomatic strategy when the prime minister engages with foreign leaders. The premier should have been assisted by her deputies. Unfortunately, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Surapong Tovichakchaikul failed to do the job. Yingluck’s constituency may be content to see her performing the role of ceremonial leader, appearing at various events domestically.

13 Cabinet members may be able to spin her comments for a domestic audience. But when she appears on the world stage, she represents the interests of Thailand. She has to ensure that the country can benefit from bilateral or multilateral talks. Otherwise, she should find a strong team of foreign affairs experts to do so. But she does not have this option because most of her Cabinet members were not selected because of their ability. Developed countries appoint their representatives from the best and most qualified people to represent their country’s interest. Yingluck’s statements are often treated as throwaway comments. For instance, when she attended the UN meeting earlier this year, she should have articulated Thailand’s desired direction in a constantly changing world. Unfortunately, the most memorable quote turned out to be her wish to bring “a woman’s touch to addressing” the South China Sea disputes. Whoever advised Yingluck to say this during the Asia Society meeting in New York should be dismissed. Recently, there has been a number of visits from foreign leaders. This is a telling sign of the strategic importance other nations place on Thailand. Foreign leaders want to visit this country so they can promote their national interest. Just look at Thai‐US relations and what visiting US President Barack Obama has accomplished. Just examine what South Korea got with the visit of President Lee Myung‐bak. If the Thai leader can engage seriously with other leaders and be on top of the discussion, it will increase the country’s profile and augment the country’s interests. So far, it is just smiling and sitting pretty. Thailand’s foreign policy has been in the doldrums for the past few years. It is time that something was done to ensure that the country’s national interests are well represented at all times. The success of our leader on the international stage is not measured by looking good in photo opportunities. Of course, a leader does not always have to be serious. But Yingluck has been too “playful” for too long. She has to get serious now, or Thailand should get the right person to fill the void.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/11/25/asia/12358675&sec =asia

The Japan Times

21 / Nov. / 2012 ‐ No end in sight to Thailand's post‐Thaksin crisis

KYOTO — Thailand's political crisis has continued to deepen and might be heading toward a new round of violent confrontation. Recently the Yingluck Shinawatra government went ahead with a Cabinet reshuffle for the third time in just over a year. And this time the new Cabinet looks a lot more "Thaksinite" than the previous incarnations. This signifies an ever‐growing confidence on the part of Thaksin, the former Thai premier and brother of Yingluck, who is believed to be the real "mover" behind the current government.

14 Thaksin has planted a number of loyalists and promoted some of his most trusted allies in the Cabinet. For example, Surapong Tovichakchaikul has been promoted to deputy prime minister while being allowed to keep his post as foreign minister. Surapong is Thaksin's half brother and has helped facilitate Thaksin's time abroad. Soon after taking up the foreign minister portfolio, Surapong returned Thaksin's passport to him, claiming that the charges against him were politically motivated. Observers see the reshuffle as another bold attempt of the government to bring Thaksin home. Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006 and sentenced to two years imprisonment for corruption — a crime that Thaksin has venomously denied. He is on the run from Thai law, but remains powerful in the political realm — so powerful that he was threatened with assassination during his planned visit to Myanmar's Tachilek, a town bordering Thailand. He later canceled his trip. Admittedly, in the past year the Yingluck government has done rather well in terms of lifting the nation's economy and implementing effective populist policies solidly backed by its rural supporters. And it has been pushing for reconciliation. This suggests that Yingluck might be able to survive her full four‐ year term — a possibility that has further infuriated her political opponents. To weaken the government, opponents launched the tired tactics of street protests to discredit Yingluck while calling for military intervention. In late October, rivals organized a rally at a horse‐racing stadium inside the Royal Turf Club with an assembly of over 20,000 antigovernment protesters attending the event. Among them are also royalists who continue to denounce the rise of Thaksin and Yingluck as a threat to the Thai monarchy. The leader of the antigovernment groups was retired Gen. Boonlert Kaewprasit who infamously called for a coup to topple the Yingluck government. He said, "I would love to see a coup." He also added that he wished to "freeze" Thailand for five years so that all "bad politicians" would disappear, paving the way for moral and ethical ones. Boonlert said that another rally will be held Friday and Saturday to kick out the Yingluck government. In Parliament, the opposition Democrat Party has joined the antigovernment bandwagon, seeking to file a no‐confidence motion against Yingluck and her Cabinet members. But since the possibility of winning the motion is slim, some Democrats have turned to vulgar tactics to taint the reputation of Yingluck, such as accusing her of being unable to speak proper English, or criticizing her supposedly inappropriate sense of dress. The reshuffle is not the only reason why anti‐Thaksin forces have re‐emerged on the political scene. The Yingluck government — under immense pressure by Yingluck's supporters to bring to justice those who killed the red‐shirt demonstrators in May 2010 — initially appeared to want to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to facilitate the investigation of that fatal incident. However, the government finally gave up its attempt to ratify the ICC because it was not ready to confront the nation's military forces. So far, Yingluck has tried indefatigably to build a working relationship with the military. The ICC issue could wreck this relationship — and this could also mean an even smaller chance for Thaksin to return home.

15 Throughout the recent antigovernment protests, the military has kept quiet. The outspoken army chief, Gen. Prayuth Chan‐ocha, has been unusually cautious about lending his support to the event at the Royal Turf Club. Prayuth has also distanced himself from the leader of the Democrat Party and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva despite the fact that they once worked in unison to overthrow Thaksin's political proxies. The shrewd position of the army is understandable. While the Yingluck government still poses a threat to the military and the political position of the monarchy, staging another coup would be too devastating. The real challenge will derive from the red‐shirt movement that first emerged in Thailand because of its anti‐coup agenda. The mushrooming of "red‐shirt villages" in the far‐flung north and northeastern regions of Thailand has been inspired by a perceived need to eliminate the culture of political intervention by the military. Could it be that the military is now playing two roles at the same time? One is to cooperate with the government on key issues, ranging from reconciliation, amnesty and even the improvement of Thai‐Cambodian relations. The other is to discreetly endorse the moves by the antigovernment forces in undermining the Yingluck regime. The key for the military is to work with the government but also to keep it weak and vulnerable. But this will not end the Thai crisis as long as antigovernment groups refuse to set down the extra‐constitutional devices that they use to remove elected governments from power. Pavin Chachavalpongpun is an associate professor at Kyoto University's Center for Southeast Asian Studies.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/eo20121121a1.html

China Daily

24 / Nov. / 2012 ‐ Thai anti‐govt protests clash with police

ANGKOK ‐ Opposition Democrat Party on Saturday condemned the government for having police fire tear gas at anti‐government demonstrators. Democracy Party Spokesman Chawanon Intharakomalsut told a press briefing Saturday that the government should not use the tear gas at demonstrators which resulted in the injury of five protesters. According to the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (TPBS), four protesters suffered from tear gas and one has a small wound in the head. The Democrat spokesman said the government must be held responsible for the use of violence and tear gas firing against the protesters. More than 100 anti‐government protesters have been detained for interrogation after the clash with police Saturday morning, authority said. About 500 anti‐government protesters clashed with police Saturday morning, cut barbed wires and drive truck to hit barricade and riot police, causing the injuries to 10 people, including police and protesters.

16 The confrontation occurred at the Makkawan Bridge at 10:40 am Saturday when supporters of anti‐government Pitak Siam group tried to break through the police barricades to join the rally at designated venue at the Royal Plaza. Several companies of riot‐control police were deployed at Makkawan bridge, prohibiting people from passing through the Ratchadamnoen Nok avenue, along which many official buildings including the government house located. The police earlier claimed they received intelligence reports that the anti‐ government protesters would seek to seize the government house. The ISA gives the government greater powers to detain protesters, block routes, impose curfews, ban public gatherings and carry out searches of buildings. The pro‐establishment Pitak Siam (meaning Protecting Siam) is led by retired army general Boonlert Kaewprasit. They accused administration of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra of corruption, failing to administrate the country and being proxy of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawara. The group has close ties with the pro‐estalbihsment, royalist Yellow‐shirted People's Alliance for Democracy, who seized Bangkok international airport in 2008.

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012‐11/24/content_15955911.htm

22 / Nov. / 2012 – China, Thailand sign rice deal

Cooperation on prisoner transfer, education agreed A rice deal signed during Premier Wen Jiabao's official visit to Thailand took immediate effect, as the Chinese private sector bought 260,000 tons of rice worth about 7 billion baht ($228 million) from Thailand. The deal helped ease domestic political and market pressure on the Thai government, which has come under fire for its rice‐trading policies. Wen and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the rice deal, which will help boost trade between the two countries. The memorandum was not a government‐to‐government contract on rice purchasing as widely understood, but an intergovernmental instrument to boost the rice trade, a senior official said. The memorandum says both sides will develop rice trading for the benefit of good relations. Under the deal, the Chinese government will support the Chinese private sector for rice trading with Thailand, according to General Damrong Kraikruan, the Foreign Ministry's East Asia department director. The rice deal with China was the most‐watched agenda item during Wen's visit because the Thai government had faced accusations from an opposition party and academics that its rice price policies damaged the domestic market and led to the decline of Thai rice trading. However, the deal was just a part of the discussions during Wen's visit. Thailand wants to increase Chinese investment by 15 percent annually, Yingluck said, adding that various sectors were open to Chinese investors, including

17 rubber processing, natural plastic, automobiles, infrastructure development for connectivity, high‐speed trains, water management and flood prevention. The two leaders witnessed the signing of three more pacts on cooperation between their foreign ministries in areas including the transfer of prisoners and education. Wen praised Yingluck's policy of making cultural and educational cooperation a priority. The two leaders also presided over the official opening of the Chinese Cultural Center in Bangkok. Yingluck said Thailand would open the Thai Cultural Centre in China in the near future. Yingluck hosted an official lunch for Wen after their meeting at the government house, and Wen later made a courtesy call to privy council chairman Preme Tinsulanonda. Yingluck conveyed her regard to the new Chinese leadership. She praised Wen as well as President Hu Jintao for their ability to bring economic success to China and the region. The Nation ‐ ANN

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2012‐11/22/content_15950916.htm

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