Week 49 (3rd December 2012 – 09th December 2012)

ASEAN Newspapers Issues pertaining to ‐ politics

Number of article(s): 7

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

THE BORNEO BULLETIN 5

07 /D EC. / 2012 ­ EX­THAI PM TO FACE MURDER CHARGE (AFP – ALSO PUBLISHED IN THE JAKARTA GLOBE, THE STRAIT TIMES) 5 ‐ Last Thursday, former PM was charged with murder over the death of civilian during 2010 “Red Shirt” rallies. ‐ The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), police and Thai prosecutors based their decision to charge the former PM and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban on witness testimony and a court’s decision in September that a Taxi driver, Phan Kamkong, was shot by troops. ‐ The oppositional Red Shirts have raised accusations of double standards over terrorism prosecutions against 24 of its leaders, including five current lawmakers, who could in theory face the death penalty in a case that is set to begin on December 13. ‐ Rights campaigners have said both the protesters and the authorities of the time should be held accountable. 06 /D EC. / 2012 – THAI KING CALLS FOR UNITY IN BIRTHDAY SPEECH 6 ‐ At least 200,000 people flooded the capital’s historic district for rare public address by Thailand’s revered king, marking his 85th birthday. ‐ The king, who is seen as almost a demi‐deity by many, told the crowd that the “goodwill” Thais had shown by attending the ceremony together bought him confidence that Thais’ kindness was key to bringing unity to the people and the nation. ‐ King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose 66 years of service makes him the world’s longest reigning monarch, suffered a minor brain bleed in July, but has since made several official appearances including meeting with Barack Obama during the US president’s visit to the country last month. ‐ The monarch has no official political role but is seen as a unifying figure in a country that has seen frequent political unrest. ‐ Thailand is in the grip of a long‐running political crisis pitting royalist against supporters of ousted PM and the government which is currently led by his sister .

THE JAKARTA POST 7 06 /D EC. / 2012 ­ EX­THAI PM WILL FACE MURDER CHARGES OVER CRACKDOWN (AP – ALSO PUBL ISH ED IN THE NEW STRAIT TIMES) 7 ‐ Murder charges are to be filled by investigators against Thai former PM and his deputy for their roles in the deadly 2010 crackdown on anti‐ government protest. ‐ This is seen as the first prosecutions of officials for their roles in the incident. ‐ Democrat Party spokesman, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut called the decision “an abuse of government’s power to threaten its opponents”, further noted that charges were filed as parliament was in recess lifting the two men’s immunity from arrest. ‐ Department of Special Investigation chief, Tharit Phengdit, denied that the decision was political motivated and said that the case was significant “for society because the deaths were inflicted by an act of government officers”. ‐ The democrat spokesman insisted the security body set up to contain the protests issued no order to use force against or kill civilians, only to keep order in dealing with "black shirts," armed men who served as guards for the demonstrators. He said both Abhisit and Suthep "are ready to prove their innocence," and that "those who brought up false charges will have to take responsibility." ‐ DSI chief Tharit told that factors leading to the planned charges include the continuing use of force over time and the killing of civilians without resorting to other methods of controlling protesters. 04 /D EC. / 2012 – FLIGHT ATTENDANT OUT OF JOB AFTER FACEBOOK REMARK 8 ‐ Cathay Pacific flight attendant lost her job after posting that she wanted to throw coffee in a passenger’s face because she happened to be the daughter of someone who she intensely dislikes: ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawtra. She posted a picture of Paetongtarn’s seating number on a Bangkok‐to‐Hong Kong flight she worked on Nov. 25. ‐ Cathay Pacific said last Monday on its Thailand Facebook page that the posting of a passenger’s personal information was unauthorized and against the airline’s privacy rules. It further said, without elaborating, that the flight attendant is “no longer an employee”.

THE STRAIT TIMES 8

06 /D EC. / 2012 – HUNDREDS OF THAI SCHOOLS CLOSE AFTER TEACHER ATTACKS 8 ‐ Teachers in Thailand’s southern province suspended lessons last Thursday following to gun attacks on two educators last week. ‐ Local teaching association had called for all state schools in the area to close for two days after a teacher was shot dead on last Monday. ‐ They demanded effective security measures for teachers. Ms. Chatsuda Nilsuwan 32, who was shot as she left school on Monday, became the 155th education worker killed in the Thai south, which has been in the grip of insurgency for nearly nine years. 05 /D EC. / 2012 – BUMPY RIDE AHEAD FOR THAI PM 9 ‐ Earlier last week, Cathay Pacific stewardess had to leave her job after posting on facebook that she felt like throwing coffee at the daughter of Thailand’s former prime minister during a recent flight. ‐ This is just one of many signs of tension simmering beneath the calm political façade of the Thai capital Bangkok as bitter opponents cool off for the next few weeks out of respect for the country’s revered monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who turned 85 on 5th of December.

THE STAR 9

06 /D EC. / 2012 – FORMER THAI PM ABHISIT CHARGED OVER CRACKDOWN DEATHS 9 ‐ Thailand’s equivalence to the FBI, The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), charged Abhisit and former deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban for their role in the 2010 events. ‐ The decision by DSI to press charges against the two former PM and Deputy PM was influence by a court ruling on September 17 in the inquest into the death of taxi driver Phan Kamthong during the protest. ‐ The two politicians where charged under article 288 of the criminal code. If found guilty they could face the death penalty or up to life in prison. ‐ The former deputy Prime Minister, Suthep Thaugsuban, headed the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation(CRES), a centre who authorised "live fire" zones during the protest and used emergency powers to shut down websites, radio stations and a television station. Government‐backed troops forcibly dispersed the crowd on May 19 2010, prompting rioting and arson attacks that saw over 30 buildings set ablaze in some of the worst violence in modern Thai history. ‐ Some analysts claims that the charges were a way for the ruling Puea Thai Party to pressure the opposition into accepting a broad amnesty deal that could whitewash guilt on both sides of the conflict and bring Thaksin home from his self‐imposed exile in Dubai. ‐ According to analyst and director of Siam Intelligence Unit, Kan Yuenyong, for Suthep and Abhisit a trial is unavoidable because so many lives were lost. However he further noted that jailing a Thai politician for ordering a military crackdown would be a first. ‐ According to human rights watch, Sunai Phasuk "For the country to get out of this cycle of violence, justice needs to be impartial and accountability accepted on both sides including violence committed by protesters and black shirts," The Borneo Bulletin

07 / Dec. / 2012 ‐ Ex‐Thai PM to face murder charge (AFP – Also published in The Jakarta Globe, The Strait Times)

BANGKOK (AFP) ‐ Former Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva is to be charged with murder over the death of a civilian during 2010 "Red Shirt" rallies, officials said Thursday, the first government figure to face court over the bloodshed. Abhisit, who was prime minister during the mass anti‐government rallies and oversaw a military crackdown on the protests, will be questioned next week and charged over the fatal shooting of a taxi driver by soldiers during the unrest. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), police and Thai prosecutors jointly decided to charge the former leader and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban under article 288, the section of the Thai criminal code that deals with murder, said DSI chief Tarit Pengdith. "Their actions ‐ repeatedly sending the armed forces against civilians ‐ show an intention to endanger life," he said. He said the group based their decision on further witness testimony as well as a court's decision in September that taxi driver Phan Kamkong was shot by troops ‐ the first completed inquest into the around 90 deaths during the country's worst political violence in decades. Abhisit and Suthep will be summoned by letter to hear the charges and to be questioned on December 12, Tarit said, adding that authorities would not seek court permission to detain the men, who are both now opposition lawmakers. They will be given an opportunity to defend themselves before considering whether to refer the case to the prosecutor, who would then be responsible for deciding if the case should go to court. Two months of rallies by the Red Shirts ‐ mostly supporters of ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra ‐ brought parts of central Bangkok to a standstill, with around 100,000 people joining the demonstrations at their height. Street clashes between Red Shirt demonstrators and security forces left nearly 1,900 wounded and culminated in a bloody military crackdown in May 2010. Two foreign journalists were among those killed. Until now no government or military officials had faced charges over the deaths. Abhisit has insisted the protest leaders should accept responsibility and said his government had no choice but to take tough action. "It was the job of the government of that day to also restore order," he told AFP last month. Red Shirts have raised accusations of double standards over terrorism prosecutions against 24 of their leaders, including five current lawmakers, who could in theory face the death penalty in a case that is set to begin on December 13. They pleaded not guilty in August 2010. Rights campaigners have said both the protesters and the authorities of the time should be held accountable. AFP was not immediately able to contact Abhisit on Thursday.

http://www.borneobulletin.com.bn/fri/dec7w4.htm

06 / Dec. / 2012 – Thai king calls for unity in birthday speech

BANGKOK (AFP) ‐ Thailand's revered king called for unity and stability in the divided nation Wednesday as huge crowds of adoring, flag‐waving citizens packed Bangkok for a rare speech to mark his 85th birthday. At least 200,000 people flooded the capital's historic district, with aerial television images showing a sea of yellow as supporters of King Bhumibol Adulyadej dressed up in the colour associated with his reign. The king, who is seen as almost a demi‐deity by many in the politically‐turbulent nation, told the crowd that the "goodwill" Thais had shown by attending the ceremony together "gives me the confidence that your kindness is key to bringing unity to the people and the nation". "If Thai people are virtuous, there is hope that no matter what situation the country finds itself in, it will be safe and retain its stability," said the monarch in his short public address from the balcony at the Anantasamakom Throne Hall in front of the Royal Plaza. Chants of "long live the king!" followed the royal motorcade as it made its way to and from the hospital where the king has lived for three years since suffering a respiratory illness in 2009. Bhumibol, whose 66 years of service makes him the world's longest reigning monarch, suffered a minor brain bleed in July, but has since made several official appearances including meeting Barack Obama during the US president's visit to the country last month. The monarch has no official political role but is seen as a unifying figure in a country that is frequently riven by political unrest, and his birthday is marked by country‐wide celebrations, a public holiday and Thai Father's Day. Any discussion of the royal family is extremely sensitive in the kingdom, where the palace has been silent over the organisation of an eventual succession. Thailand is in the grip of a long‐running political crisis pitting royalists against supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the current government led by his sister Yingluck. The bitter divisions have led to sometimes violent street rallies in recent years. An anti‐government protest last month ‐ attended by members of the influential monarchist "Yellow Shirts" ‐ was centred at Royal Plaza and saw clashes between police and demonstrators in the city. Yingluck was among the dignitaries at the ceremony, as well as most key members of the royal family with the exception of Queen SirikitDoctors treating the 80‐year‐old queen, who was diagnosed with a slight loss of blood flow to the brain after being taken ill in July, said she was still too weak to attend the event, according to a statement from the palace on Tuesday.

http://www.borneobulletin.com.bn/thu/dec6w8.htm

The Jakarta Post

06 / Dec. / 2012 ‐ Ex‐Thai PM will face murder charges over crackdown (AP – Also published in the New Strait Times)

Investigators say they plan to file murder charges against Thailand's former prime minister and his deputy in the first prosecutions of officials for their roles in a deadly 2010 crackdown on anti‐government protests. The protests and crackdown left more than 90 people dead and about 1,800 injured in Thailand's worst political violence in decades. Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrat Party, now in the opposition after being ousted in elections last year, and "red shirt" supporters of the ruling have blamed each other for the bloodshed since. Department of Special Investigation chief Tharit Phengdit said Thursday that investigators found Abhisit possibly culpable in the death of a taxi driver because he allowed troops to use war weapons and live ammunition against protesters. Abhisit and former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who was in charge of the ad hoc security agency set up to contain the protests, will be summoned Wednesday to be formally charged. The courts must accept the case before it can go to trial. Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut called the decision "an abuse of government's power to threaten its opponents." He noted that it was done while parliament is in recess so the two men's immunity from arrest is lifted. Tharit denied that the decision is politically motivated and said the case is significant "for society because the deaths were inflicted by an act of government officers." The deaths occurred during the red shirts' nine‐week anti‐government protest in the heart of the capital that had sought to force Abhisit to call early elections. Central Bangkok was garrisoned by soldiers until they moved in to crush the protest on May 19, 2010. The protest was staged primarily by supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup after being accused of corruption and disrespect to the monarchy. His supporters and opponents have vied for power since then, and Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinawatra now leads the government. A Criminal Court inquest recently found that taxi driver Phan Kamkong was killed by guns used by military personnel during the crackdown. Chavanond alleged that the inquest was a one‐sided trial in which the accused could not defend themselves and that no one was pinpointed as the shooter. He insisted the security body set up to contain the protests issued no order to use force against or kill civilians, only to keep order in dealing with "black shirts," armed men who served as guards for the demonstrators. "To use the court's inquest to conclude that the two men had the intention of murder was groundless and against the law," Chavanond said. He said both Abhisit and Suthep "are ready to prove their innocence," and that "those who brought up false charges will have to take responsibility." DSI chief Tharit said factors leading to the planned charges include the continuing use of force over time and the killing of civilians without resorting to other methods of controlling protesters.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/12/07/ex‐thai‐pm‐will‐face‐ murder‐charges‐over‐crackdown.html

04 / Dec. / 2012 – Flight attendant out of job after Facebook remark

A Cathay Pacific flight attendant is out of a job after writing on her Facebook page that she wanted to throw coffee in a passenger's face because she happened to be the daughter of someone she dislikes intensely: ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The flight attendant caused a stir in the Thai online communities last week for posting hostile comments about Thaksin's youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. She also posted a picture of Paetongtarn's seating number on a Bangkok‐to‐Hong Kong flight she worked on Nov. 25. Hong Kong‐based Cathay Pacific said Monday on its Thailand Facebook page that the posting of a passenger's personal information was unauthorized and against the airline's privacy rules. It said, without elaborating, that the flight attendant is "no longer an employee." The flight attendant said in her post that she called her personal adviser to ask "if it was all right to throw something on (Paetongtarn) on this flight." "Paetongtarn, I didn't throw coffee in her face today but she had no clue that I will keep on fighting until your clan can no longer live like fleas on the Thai soil," she wrote. Cathay Pacific did not release the name of the flight attendant, whose Facebook handle is Honey Lochanachai. The flight attendant said Monday on Facebook that she resigned in order to take responsibility. A message seeking comment from the Shinawatra family was not immediately returned Tuesday. Thaksin, a divisive figure in Thai politics, was ousted in a 2006 coup and lives in self‐imposed exile following a 2008 corruption conviction. His sister Yingluck has been prime minister since last year, and her opponents say she is Thaksin's proxy. She recently survived a no‐confidence vote in parliament and protests organized by Thaksin's opponents.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/12/04/flight‐attendant‐out‐job‐ after‐facebook‐remark.html

The Strait Times

06 / Dec. / 2012 – Hundreds of Thai schools close after teacher attacks

BANGKOK (AFP) ‐ Teachers in Thailand's restive south suspended lessons at hundreds of schools on Thursday after gun attacks on two educators this week, in the second recent class stoppage in the region over security fears. The local teaching association in Narathiwat, one of three insurgency‐plagued southern provinces, said it had called for all state schools in the area to close for two days after a teacher was shot dead on Monday. "We demand effective security measures for teachers. State agencies should take responsibility for this incident," said chairman Sanguan Intarak, adding the group would reassess the situation before schools reopened early next week. Ms Chatsuda Nilsuwan, 32, who was shot as she left school on Monday, became the 155th education worker killed in the Thai south, which has been in the grip of insurgency for nearly nine years. http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking‐news/se‐asia/story/hundreds‐thai‐ schools‐close‐after‐teacher‐attacks‐20121206

05 / Dec. / 2012 – Bumpy ride ahead for Thai PM

A CATHAY Pacific stewardess had to leave her job earlier this week after posting on Facebook that she felt like throwing coffee at the daughter of Thailand's former prime minister during a recent flight. Ms Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the youngest of Mr Thaksin's three children, was on her way to Hong Kong two Sundays ago to see her father, a man the Thai flight attendant reportedly regarded as her "enemy". It is just one of the many signs of tension simmering beneath the calm political facade of the Thai capital Bangkok as bitter foes cool off for the next few weeks out of respect for the country's revered monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who turns 85 today. Fits of unrest have wracked Thailand since Thaksin was ousted by a coup in 2006 and left the country to evade a jail term meted in 2008. http://www.straitstimes.com/the‐big‐story/asia‐report/thailand/story/bumpy‐ ride‐ahead‐thai‐pm‐20121205

The Star

06 / Dec. / 2012 – Former Thai PM Abhisit charged over crackdown deaths

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), part of the Justice Ministry that has a similar role to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, charged Abhisit and former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban for their role in the 2010 events. "They allowed security forces to use weapons and live ammunition that led to the death of civilians," said DSI chief Tarit Pengdith. The DSI's decision to press charges was influenced by a court ruling on September 17 in the inquest into the death of taxi driver Phan Kamthong during the protests. The inquest found that troops, acting on orders from state officials, killed Phan. The two politicians were charged under article 288 of the criminal code. If found guilty, they could face the death penalty or up to life in prison. Neither was present when the charges were read out. Thousands of protesters, supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006, had taken to the streets of Bangkok in March 2010 to demand elections. More than 90 people died during the protracted protest. Suthep headed the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation(CRES), a crisis control centre that authorised "live fire" zones during the protest and used emergency powers to shut down websites, radio stations and a television station. Government‐backed troops forcibly dispersed the crowd on May 19, prompting rioting and arson attacks that saw over 30 buildings set ablaze in some of the worst violence in modern Thai history. Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, is now prime minister. Her Puea Thai Party beat Abhisit's Democrat Party in an election in July 2011 and he became leader of the opposition. "The DSI is working at the behest of the government and the investigation is completely one‐sided," said Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, a Democrat party spokesman. "The DSI wants to put pressure on Suthep to admit responsibility for the 2010 deaths and we will fight back." On September 17, the Truth for Reconciliation Commission, set up by Abhisit's government to investigate the deadly clashes, released a 351‐page report that laid blame for the deaths on the military and a shadowy group of militants dressed in black who hid among the protesters. Some analysts said the charges were a way for the ruling Puea Thai Party to pressure the opposition into accepting a broad amnesty deal that could whitewash guilt on both sides of the conflict and bring Thaksin home from his self‐imposed exile in Dubai. "It's a political game and a way for Puea Thai to gain the upper hand by forcing their opposition to accept some sort of amnesty deal," Kan Yuenyong, director of Siam Intelligence Unit, a think tank in Bangkok, told Reuters. "Suthep and Abhisit can't avoid a trial because so many lives were lost. They will have to accept some responsibility," he added. "Thailand has never jailed a politician for ordering a military crackdown on civilians so if Suthep and Abhisit are convicted, that would be a first." Some question the DSI's neutrality, accusing Tarit of backing Abhisit's viewpoint when he was in office, then switching emphasis after Yingluck came to power and pressing charges against the former premier and his deputy. "For the country to get out of this cycle of violence, justice needs to be impartial and accountability accepted on both sides including violence committed by protesters and black shirts," Sunai Phasuk of Human Rights Watch told Reuters. Abhisit and Suthep will be summoned for questioning and to hear the charges against them on December 12. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/12/6/worldupdates/2012‐ 12‐06T111535Z_3_BRE8B50B1_RTROPTT_0_UK‐THAILAND‐ PROTEST&sec=Worldupdates