DOCSLIB.ORG

Week 22 (28 April 2012 – 03 May 2012)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Week 22 (28 April 2012 – 03 May 2012) ASEAN Newspapers Issues pertaining to Thailand/politics Number of article(s): 18 Keywords/criteria used for search: Thailand, Thai, ASEAN/EU Online newspapers included in search: Borneo Bulletin (Brunei) Brunei Times (Brunei) Phnom Penh Post (Cambodia) Cambodia Daily (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 Philippine Inquirer (Philippines) The Straits Times (Singapore) Table of Contents THE BRUNEI TIMES 6 31 / MAY / 2012 ­ THAI RECONCILIATION BILL 'TO DEEPEN THAI DIVIDES' 6 • This articles focuses on the recent political protest by the Yellow shirts against the charter amendments that would pave way for an blanket amnesty. • The PAD protest was reported to have included some 5000 people. • It is further noted that Somkiart Pongpaiboon (PAD leader) was quoted for saying that "Our [PAD] steps are stop reconciliation bills, expel the prime minister and reform democracy,". 02 / JUNE / 2012 ­ INTEGRATION A MUST FOR ASEAN NATIONS 6 • This article focuses on the future for Asean integration given the Eurozone crisis in the EU. • It is considered that Asean could learn from the EU and US case in order to avoid future problems to its increaingly connect/integration project. It is particularly mentioned that the current problems facing the Euro is a lesson which the ASEAN community could learn from. BORNEO BULLETIN 7 30 / MAY / 2012 ­ THAI TRANSGENDER WINS ELECTION FOR PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 7 • This article relates to Sunday's provincial election held in Nan where Ms. Yonlada Suanyos, 30, won • It is considered that this has set a political precedent in the country for political equality for homosexuals. Ms. Yonlada received 3,808 votes in the Provincial Administrative elections. THE PHNOM PENH POST 8 29 / MAY / 2012 ­ PREAH VIHEAR TALKS SET FOR NEXT MONTH 8 • This article focuses on the close‐door meeting between Thailand's defense minister and Cambodian defense minister during the ASEAN defense meetings on the 28 of May. • The meeting relates to an eventual troop pullout near the Preah Vihear temple along the Thai‐Cambodian border. THE JAKARTA POST 8 30 / MAY / 2012 ­ THAI TRANSGENDER POLITICIAN VOWS TO FIGHT FOR RIGHTS OF ALL 8 • This article focuses on Sunday's provincial election held in Nan where Ms. Yonlada Suanyos, 30, won. It further notes that the election and the winning by Ms. Yonlada has garned international interest and coverage of the election as it is seen as a significant case for equal rights for homosexuals • It is further noted that Ms. Yonlada aims to promote and fight for human rights during her term. She will as well retain her position as president of the Trans‐female Association. 2 30 / MAY / 2012 ­ SUU KYI VISIT BRINGS HOPE TO MYANMAR COMMUNITY IN THAILAND 10 • This article focuses on the visit by Aung San Suu Kyi to Thailand as her first visit abroad after 24 years. • Part of her visit will be to attend the World Economic Forum as well as visit Myanmar migrant workers. 31 / MAY / 2012 – ON THAILAND TRIP, SUU KYI VISITS MYANMAR MIGRANTS 10 • This article focuses on the particular visit by Aung San Su Kyi to Mahachai in Bangkok. The area is known for containing the largest population of Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand • It was further reported that during her visit to the community, she would seek to promote the repatriation of the Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand when conditions in Myanmar have improved. 31 / 05 / 2012 ­ PROSPECT OF THAKSIN RETURN HEATS UP THAI POLITICS (AP ALSO FEATURED IN VIENTIANE TIMES AND STRAIT TIMES) 11 • This article focuses on the proposed bill/charter amendment and the subsequent political protest last Wednesday and Thursday by the PAD and the democrat opposition. • It is further noted that the street protests last Wednesday were peaceful, but the scene inside parliament was quite different. Police were reportly called upon to keep order as the opposition Democrat Party sought to derail efforts to schedule debate on the bill. It further notes that at one point, a female Democrat lawmaker dragged the House speaker's empty chair off the podium, sparking a scuffle with government members of parliament. Policemen retrieved the chair later on. VIETNAM NET 13 29 / MAY / 2012 ­ CAMBODIA, THAILAND TO DISCUSS TROOP PULLOUT 13 • This article focuses on the ASEAN defense minister meeting in Phnom Penh where it was considered that a common consensus was reached between Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh and Thai Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat in May 28. • The Cambodian Defence Minister, Banh said the JWG will convene its second meeting in Phnom Penh in June to further discuss the withdrawal of troops in more detail, as part of efforts to comply with the International Court of Justice’s decision on July 18, 2011. THE STRAIT TIMES 13 30 / MAY / 2012 – THAI ‘YELLOW SHIRTS’ RALLY AGAINST THAKSIN AMNESTY MOVES (REUTERS) 13 • This article reports on the PAD's recent rally on Wednesday against a planned national reconciliation bill seen by some as a way of letting ex‐ premier Thaksin Shinawatra return home from exile. 30 / MAY / 2012 – CALLS GROW FOR REFORM OF STRICT THAI ROYAL INSULT LAW (AFP – ALSO FEATURED IN THE PHILIPPINE INQUIRER) 14 • This article reports on the petition signed by almost 27,000 people urging reform of Thailand's strict royal insult law. The petition was submitted to parliament last Tuesday • The article further notes that there has been increasing calls for the law to be changed since the death of Ampon Tangnoppakul 3 30 / MAY / 2012 ­ THAI WEBMASTER GUILTY, JAIL SUSPENDED UNDER LESE MAJESTE LAW (AFP – ALSO FEATURED IN THE PHILIPPINE INQUIRER) 14 • This articles reports on the recent ruling by the Thai court on Wednesday which found Ms Chiranuch Premchaiporn, Prachatai online editor, guilty of failing to speedily delete comments by other people deemed insulting to the royal family from her popular news website. • It was further reported that the Bangkok court fined her 20,000 baht (S$804). Judge Kampol Rungrat, while sentencing Ms Chiranuch to eight months in jail, suspended the sentence for a year, stating that she had cooperated with the court and had 'never violated the law herself'. 02 / JUNE / 2012 – SUU KYI VISITS MYANMAR REFUGEES IN THAILAND (AP) 14 • This article focuses on the recent travel of Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to the Mae La Refugee Camp along the Thai border on Saturday. • The article further adds that the visit to the camp presented Suu Kyi with her first glimpse of the hardships faced by hundreds of thousands who have fled war in her homeland. 02 / JUNE / 2012 ­ THAI ‘YELLOW SHIRTS’ BRING PARLIAMENT TO A HALT (REUTERS ­ ALSO FEATURED IN THE STAR) 15 • This article focuses on the political protests by the PAD which brought the Thai parliament to a halt last Friday. It was further reported that protesters surrounded the complex and forced the speaker of the house to postpone debate on a reconciliation bill that critics are reported to have said that aims to allow former prime minister Thaksin to return home. 03 / JUNE / 2012 – RECONCILE OR FACE ‘CYCLE OF VIOLENCE’: THAI PM YINGLUCK (AFP) 15 • This article focuses on a statement issued by Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday warning the deeply divided kingdom could face a 'cycle of violence' unless steps were taken towards reconciliation. • It further notes that "proposals aimed at healing rifts that have seen Thailand rocked by bloody unrest since a 2006 coup have sparked fury among opposition members of parliaments who fear they will open the door for Yingluck's brother ­ ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra ­ to return." THE STAR 16 30 / MAY / 2012 ­ WEBMASTER GETS SUSPENDED SENTENCE IN THAI ROYAL INSULT CASE (REUTERS) 16 • This article focuses on the verdict of the Thai Court on Prachatai's online editor Ms. Chiranuch. The article notes that the suspended sentence is a rare moment of leniency. • It further notes that Thailand has some of the world's toughest lese majeste laws to penalise insults against the king, queen and crown prince. • The Bangkok Criminal Court ruled the posts on the Prachatai news website as offensive to the royal family and that its editor, Ms. Chiranuch, failed to remove them promptly, as requested by the court, allowing at least one to stay online for 20 days. 30 / MAY / 2012 ­ BRAWL IN THAI PARLIAMENT AS THOUSANDS RALLY OUTSIDE 17 4 • This articles focuses on a brawl that occurred in the Thai Parliament between opposition democrat women MPs and Pheu Thai women MPs as well as the political protest outside by The PAD. 03 / JUNE / 2012 ­ NEW BLOOD IN OLD WOUNDS 18 • This article focuses on the protracted conflict in Southern Thailand. It provides a transcript of an interview with the director of Foreign Relations of the Patani Forum, Don Pathan, who discusses the issues during interview at the Asean‐ISIS annual Asia‐Pacific Roundtable hosted by ISIS Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. • He notes that the situation in Southern Thailand seems unchanged • He further notes that there is a need to empower the people in the South. • He adds that there has been much talk of autonomy, but all the parties promoting the concept did not get a seat in Parliament. • Also he mentions that the southern communities are concerned with equality and justice, and they have lost faith in Bangkok politicians. • Asking the Thai governments to take responsibilty and acknowledge the past, and to admit that mistakes have been made. • He further notes that Malaysia's role could be to help bring about a peace process.
Recommended publications
  • Policy Statement of the Council of Ministers

    Policy Statement of the Council of Ministers

    Policy Statement of the Council of Ministers Delivered by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to the National Assembly on Tuesday 7 October B.E. 2551 (2008) 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Announcement on the Appointment i of the Prime Minister Announcement on the Appointment of Ministers ii Policy Statement of the Government of 1 Mr. Somchai Wongsawat, Prime Minister, to the National Assembly 1. Urgent policies to be implemented within the first year 3 2. National Security Policy 7 3. Social and Quality of Life Policy 8 4. Economic Policy 13 5. Policy on Land, Natural Resources, and the Environment 20 6. Policy on Science, Technology, Research and Innovation 22 7. Foreign Policy and International Economic Policy 23 8. Policy on Good Management and Governance 24 Annex A 29 Section 1 Enactment or revision of laws according to the provisions 29 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand Section 2 Draft laws that the Council of Ministers deems necessary 31 for the administration of state affairs, pursuant to Section 145 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand Annex B 33 List of the Cabinet’s Policy Topics in the Administration of State Affairs Compared with the Directive Principles of Fundamental State Policies in Chapter 5 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2 Announcement on the Appointment of the Prime Minister Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rex Phrabat Somdet Phra Paramintharamaha Bhumibol Adulyadej has graciously given a Royal Command for the announcement to be made that: Given the termination of the ministership of Mr. Samak Sundaravej, Prime Minister, under Section 182 paragraph 1 (7) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives having humbly informed His Majesty that the House of Representatives has passed a resolution on 17 September B.E.
  • Search Centre (SEARC) Working Paper Series No

    Search Centre (SEARC) Working Paper Series No

    Southeast Asia Research Centre (SEARC) Working Paper Series No. 187 Under the Boot: Military-Civil Relations in Thailand since the 2014 Coup Paul Chambers Lecturer in International Relations (IR) ISEAA, Chiang Mai University Thailand Under the Boot: Military-Civil Relations in Thailand since the 2014 Coup Paul Chambers [email protected] ISEAA, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand Working Paper for SEARC, August 15, 2016 Abstract: Thailand’s May 2014 military putsch has ushered in a period of authoritarian control not seen in the country for 40 years. A spiraling number of Thais suspected by the ruling junta of subversion have been arrested for “attitude adjustment” with the number of political prisoners soaring to over 1000 persons. Allegations of torture and sexual abuse of prisoners by soldiers have grown. Political rights and liberties have been quashed. Military courts have become the dominant judiciary of Thailand. Soldiers and junta leaders act with legal impunity. Finally, the junta has sought to enact a new constitution which enshrines a greater political role for the military across the country. In mid-2016 the junta has become even more repressive as opponents in Thai civil society increasingly test the limits of their resistance. How successful has the junta been in establishing mechanisms to ensure their perseverance in power? What are the internal and external challenges to the junta? What is the future of Thai military rule or the beginning of demilitarization? This study addresses these questions. Introduction In 2016 Thailand has experienced the longest period of total military rule since the years 1958-1969. A ruling junta has used brute force, the imposition of laws expanding junta prerogatives, and monarchical endorsement to legitimize its hold on the country—all the while promising Thais that democracy will return as soon as a new constitution is enacted.
  • A Coup Ordained? Thailand's Prospects for Stability

    A Coup Ordained? Thailand's Prospects for Stability

    A Coup Ordained? Thailand’s Prospects for Stability Asia Report N°263 | 3 December 2014 International Crisis Group Headquarters Avenue Louise 149 1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 502 90 38 Fax: +32 2 502 50 38 [email protected] Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... i I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 II. Thailand in Turmoil ......................................................................................................... 2 A. Power and Legitimacy ................................................................................................ 2 B. Contours of Conflict ................................................................................................... 4 C. Troubled State ............................................................................................................ 6 III. Path to the Coup ............................................................................................................... 9 A. Revival of Anti-Thaksin Coalition ............................................................................. 9 B. Engineering a Political Vacuum ................................................................................ 12 IV. Military in Control ............................................................................................................ 16 A. Seizing Power
  • Media Framing of Military Junta's Suppression of Political Dissidents

    Media Framing of Military Junta's Suppression of Political Dissidents

    Media Framing of Military Junta’s Suppression of Political Dissidents Regarding the Constitutional Draft from January to August 2016 in Thailand A Research Paper presented by: Thanit Nilayodhin (462343tn) (Thailand) in partial fulfilment of the requirements for obtaining the degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES Major: Human Rights, Gender and Conflict Studies: Social Justice Perspectives (SJP) Specialization: Conflict and Peace Studies Members of the Examining Committee: dr. Dubravka Žarkov dr. Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits The Hague, The Netherlands November 2017 ii Contents List of Annexes v List of Acronyms vi Acknowledgement vii Abstract viii Chapter 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Background of the military junta's suppression: Pre-coup political conflict 1 1.3 Context of the Military Junta’s Suppression of Anti-Charter Movements 2 1.4 Context of The Nation 6 1.5 Research Questions and Objectives 8 1.6 Research Methodology 8 1.7 Justification of the Study 10 1.8 Scope of the Research 10 1.9 My Positionality towards the Topic 10 Chapter 2: Theoretical Perspectives 11 Chapter 3: Military Junta Ideology and Media Frames 3.1 Military Junta Ideology Dominating the Media Sphere 14 3.2 Four Media Frames of News Coverage 16 Chapter 4: Normal power to suppress frame 4.1 Normal Power of State Authorities 17 4.2 Dissidents as Victims of State Authorities 19 4.3 Conclusion 20 Chapter 5: Law enforcement by key government figures frame 5.1 Government Figures’ Imperative 21 5.2 Exclusion for Disguising the Junta Image 22 5.3 Conclusion 22 Chapter 6: Dissidents’ criticism of the NCPO frame 6.1 Attention Drawn to Dissidents 23 6.2 Less NCPO Suppression, More Dissidents’ Anti-Charter Image 24 6.3 Conclusion 25 Chapter 7: Keeping order frame 7.1 Government’s “Order” and “Neutrality” 26 7.2 Unclear “Order” and Absent Junta 27 iii 7.3 Conclusion 27 Chapter 8: Reflections of the Media Frames on Military Junta Ideology 8.1 The Media Frames in a Nutshell 29 8.2 Dominant Frame vs.
  • Organic Crisis, Social Forces, and the Thai State, 1997 – 2010

    Organic Crisis, Social Forces, and the Thai State, 1997 – 2010

    THE OLD IS DYING AND THE NEW CANNOT BE BORN: ORGANIC CRISIS, SOCIAL FORCES, AND THE THAI STATE, 1997 – 2010 WATCHARABON BUDDHARAKSA PhD UNIVERSITY OF YORK POLITICS FEBRUARY 2014 i Abstract This thesis is a study of the crisis-ridden social transition of the Thai state (1997-2010) by analysing the interrelations of social forces in the Thai historical bloc. The thesis argues that the recent political conflict in Thailand that reached its peak in 2010 transcended the conflict between the Thaksin government and its social antagonists, or merely the conflict between the Yellow and the Red Shirt forces. Rather, the organic crisis of the Thai state in the recent decade should be seen as social reflections of the unfinished process of social transition. Furthermore, this transition contains features of ‘crises’, ‘restructuring’, ‘transition’ and ‘other crises’ within the transition. The thesis employs a Gramscian account as a major theoretical framework because it stresses the importance of history, provides tools to analyse configurations of social forces, and offers a combined focus of political, social, and ideological matters. This thesis finds that the street fights and violent government repression in May 2010 was only the tip of the iceberg and the incidents of 2010 themselves did not represent a genuine picture of Thailand’s organic crisis. The crisis, this thesis argues, was not caused only by the Thaksin government and its allies. The Thaksin social force should be seen as a part of a broader social transition in which it acted as a ‘social catalyst’ that brought social change to the Thai state in terms of both political economy and socio- ideological elements.
  • Deciding About Thailand's Election System

    Deciding About Thailand's Election System

    東南亞研究中心 Southeast Asia Research Centre Michael H. NELSON Regional Research Unit Southeast Asian Studies Program School of Liberal Arts Walailak University The Democrat and Phuea Thai Parties in Thailand’s 2011 Elections: Thaksin Shinawatra Returns to Power Working Paper Series No. 140 February 2013 The Southeast Asia Research Centre (SEARC) of the City University of Hong Kong publishes SEARC Working Papers Series electronically © Copyright is held by the author or authors each Working Paper. SEARC Working Papers cannot be republished, reprinted, or reproduced in any format without the permission of the papers author or authors. Note: The views expressed in each paper are those of the author or authors of the paper. They do not represent the views of the Southeast Asia Research Centre, its Management Committee, or the City University of Hong Kong. Southeast Asia Research Centre Management Committee Professor Mark R. Thompson, Director Dr Kyaw Yin Hlaing, Associate Director Dr Chiara Formichi Dr Nicholas Thomas Dr Bill Taylor Editor of the SEARC Working Paper Series Professor Mark R. Thompson Southeast Asia Research Centre The City University of Hong Kong 83 Tat Chee Avenue Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR Tel: (852 3442 6330 Fax: (852) 3442 0103 http://www.cityu.edu.hk/searc The Democrat and Phuea Thai Parties in Thailand’s 2011 Elections: Thaksin Shinawatra Returns to Power Michael H. Nelson1 The elections of July 3, 2011, were not a routine procedure for determining which party, or coalition of parties, should govern Thailand for the next four years. From the time the outgoing coalition government led by Democrat Party chairperson Abhisit Vejjajiva took over from the remnants of Thaksin Shinawatra’s People’s Power Party (PPP), which had been dissolved by a verdict of the Constitutional Court in December 2008, it had been seen by many as having been formed illegitimately.
  • Les Ennemis D'internet Rapport 2012

    Les Ennemis D'internet Rapport 2012

    LES ENNEMIS D’INTERNET RAPPORT 2012 LES ENNEMIS D’INTERNET / 12 MARS 2012 / JOURNÉE MONDIALE CONTRE LA CYBER-CENSURE ////////////////////// 2 CARTE MONDIALE DE LA CYBER-CENSURE..............3 INTRODUCTION GÉNÉRALE...........................................................4 PAYS ENNEMIS D’INTERNET ARABIE SAOUDITE...................................................................................................12 BaHREIN....................................................................................................................14 BÉLARUS...................................................................................................................16 BIRMANIE...................................................................................................................18 CHINE........................................................................................................................20 CORÉE DU NORD.....................................................................................................24 CUBA.........................................................................................................................26 IRAN..........................................................................................................................28 OUZBÉKISTAN...........................................................................................................32 SYRIE........................................................................................................................34 TURKMÉNISTAN.......................................................................................................37
  • Yingluck Takes Command 9 Aug 2011 at 07:50

    Yingluck Takes Command 9 Aug 2011 at 07:50

    Yingluck takes command 9 Aug 2011 at 07:50 With her husband and young son looking on, new prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra pledged allegiance to the monarchy and her full commitment towards working in the best interests of the country. Thailand’s first female prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra pays respects to a portrait of His Majesty the King as she receives the royal command appointing her as premier at PheuThai Party headquarters in Bangkok yesterday. MsYingluck is the country’s 28th prime minister. MEDIAPOOL Note: You have probably heard or read prime minister Yingluck's speech yesterday. The story below gives a good English-language summary. You might also be interested in our new facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning Click button to listen to Yingluck speaks and rightclick to download King endorses Yingluck as PM National reconciliation tops new govt's agenda Aekarach Sattaburuth His Majesty the King yesterday endorsed Yingluck Shinawatra as the country's first female prime minister. In her first address to the nation after receiving the royal command formalising her premiership, Ms Yingluck vowed her allegiance to the monarchy and pledged to foster national reconciliation. Her cabinet line-up is expected to be submitted for royal endorsement today. At 6.40pm yesterday, the secretary-general of the House of Representatives Pitoon Pumhiran brought the royal command to the Pheu Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok. Mr Pitoon read out the royal command appointing Ms Yingluck as the country's new premier after she was nominated for the top job uncontested on Friday by the majority of members of the House of Representatives.
  • Unruly Boots: Military Power and Security Sector Reform Efforts in Thailand Chambers, Paul

    Unruly Boots: Military Power and Security Sector Reform Efforts in Thailand Chambers, Paul

    www.ssoar.info Unruly boots: military power and security sector reform efforts in Thailand Chambers, Paul Arbeitspapier / working paper Zur Verfügung gestellt in Kooperation mit / provided in cooperation with: Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (HSFK) Empfohlene Zitierung / Suggested Citation: Chambers, P. (2013). Unruly boots: military power and security sector reform efforts in Thailand. (PRIF Reports, 121). Frankfurt am Main: Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung. https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168- ssoar-349442 Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Dieser Text wird unter einer Deposit-Lizenz (Keine This document is made available under Deposit Licence (No Weiterverbreitung - keine Bearbeitung) zur Verfügung gestellt. Redistribution - no modifications). We grant a non-exclusive, non- Gewährt wird ein nicht exklusives, nicht übertragbares, transferable, individual and limited right to using this document. persönliches und beschränktes Recht auf Nutzung dieses This document is solely intended for your personal, non- Dokuments. Dieses Dokument ist ausschließlich für commercial use. All of the copies of this documents must retain den persönlichen, nicht-kommerziellen Gebrauch bestimmt. all copyright information and other information regarding legal Auf sämtlichen Kopien dieses Dokuments müssen alle protection. You are not allowed to alter this document in any Urheberrechtshinweise und sonstigen Hinweise auf gesetzlichen way, to copy it for public or commercial purposes, to exhibit the Schutz beibehalten werden. Sie dürfen dieses Dokument document in public, to perform, distribute or otherwise use the nicht in irgendeiner Weise abändern, noch dürfen Sie document in public. dieses Dokument für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke By using this particular document, you accept the above-stated vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, aufführen, vertreiben oder conditions of use.
  • Volume 16 AJHR 50 Parliament.Pdf

    Volume 16 AJHR 50 Parliament.Pdf

    APPENDIX TO THE JOURNALS OF THE House of Representatives OF NEW ZEALAND 2011–2014 VOL. 16 J—PAPERS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE IN THE REIGN OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND Being the Fiftieth Parliament of New Zealand 0110–3407 WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND: Published under the authority of the House of Representatives—2015 ARRANGEMENT OF THE PAPERS _______________ I—Reports and proceedings of select committees VOL. 1 Reports of the Education and Science Committee Reports of the Finance and Expenditure Committee Reports of the Government Administration Committee VOL. 2 Reports of the Health Committee Report of the Justice and Electoral Committee Reports of the Māori Affairs Committee Reports of the Social Services Committee Reports of the Officers of Parliament Committee Reports of the Regulations Review Committee VOL. 3 Reports of the Regulations Review Committee Reports of the Privileges Committee Report of the Standing Orders Committee VOL. 4 Reports of select committees on the 2012/13 Estimates VOL. 5 Reports of select committees on the 2013/14 Estimates VOL. 6 Reports of select committees on the 2014/15 Estimates Reports of select committees on the 2010/11 financial reviews of Government departments, Offices of Parliament, and reports on non-departmental appropriations VOL. 7 Reports of select committees on the 2011/12 financial reviews of Government departments, Offices of Parliament, and reports on non-departmental appropriations Reports of select committees on the 2012/13 financial reviews of Government departments, Offices of Parliament, and reports on non-departmental appropriations VOL. 8 Reports of select committees on the 2010/11 financial reviews of Crown entities, public organisations, and State enterprises VOL.
  • The Politics of the Constitutional Amendment Regarding The

    The Politics of the Constitutional Amendment Regarding The

    วารสารรัฐศาสตร์และรัฐประศาสนศาสตร์ ปีที่ 11 ฉบับที่ 2 (กรกฎาคม-ธันวาคม 2563): 219-252 When the Minority Overruled the Majority: The Politics of the Constitutional Amendment Regarding the Acquisition of Senators in Thailand in 20131 Purawich Watanasukh2 Received: April 17, 2019 Revised: June 30, 2019 Accepted: July 12, 2019 Abstract In 2013, the ruling Pheu Thai Party, backed by former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, proposed an amendment to the 2007 Constitution by making the Senate fully elected. Drafted after the 2006 coup, the 2007 Constitution created a senate that consists of half elected and half appointed senators. Controversially, the Constitutional Court ruled that this amendment was unconstitutional because it attempts to overthrow the democratic regime of government with the king as head of state. Why was this constitutional amendment unsuccessful? This paper argues that this amendment must be understood in terms of political struggle between the new elite rising from electoral politics (Thaksin Shinawatra and his party), which has majority of votes as its legitimacy, while the old elite (the military, bureaucracy) premises its legitimacy on traditional institutions and attempts to retain influence through unelected institutions. ค าส าคัญ Senate, Thailand, Constitution 1 This article is a part of the author’s PhD research titled “The Politics and Institutional Change in the Senate of Thailand”, funded by the University of Canterbury Doctoral Scholarship 2 Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Canterbury, New Zealand. E-mail: [email protected] When the Minority Overruled the Majority • Purawich Watanasukh เมื่อเสียงข้างน้อยหักล้างเสียงข้างมาก: การเมืองของการแก้ไขรัฐธรรมนูญ ในประเด็นที่มาของสมาชิกวุฒิสภาในประเทศไทย พ.ศ. 2556 ปุรวิชญ์ วัฒนสุข3 บทคัดย่อ ในปี พ.ศ. 2556 รัฐบาลพรรคเพื่อไทยซึ่งได้รับการสนับสนุนจากทักษิณ ชินวัตร ได้เสนอญัตติให้มีการแก้ไขรัฐธรรมนูญ พ.ศ.

  • NOREF Report

    July 2012 NOREF Report Thailand: contested politics and democracy Naruemon Thabchumpon Executive summary This report assesses the current political cross-class networks that have adopted situation in Thailand. It first explores the a dual strategy: engaging in the issue- politics of contestation after the 2011 based politics of favour or against a election, upcoming events on the electoral particular person or subject matter, while calendar and the 2007 constitutional at the same time forming a social grouping amendment. It then examines the politics for the betterment of the people. Since of change in Thailand’s political landscape there has been more agitation against the and the effect of political parties’ policies on political role of the military, the idea of a the country’s socioeconomic conditions. judicial coup d’état has been increasing Thereafter it discusses the country’s seen in Thai political society. By using democratic space and the limited freedom such arguments, the contestation over of expression, especially in terms of the meaning of democracy of the political issues and the lese-majesty law. abovementioned networks can be seen as Finally, it analyses possible scenarios a mechanism to unite ordinary people into for democratic change and conflict a political force and is thus related to the transformation in terms of the politics of issue of ordinary citizens’ access to power. succession. The report argues that Thailand’s politics of contestation can be seen as a set of Naruemon Thabchumpon, PhD, is a lecturer in politics and government in the Faculty of Political Sciences and director of the International Development Studies Programme at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.