November 24, 2020 Thai Enquirer Summary Political News Embattled Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha came out to dismiss a rumour of an imminent military coup d’état as a ploy to mobilise support for their planned rally outside the office of the Crown Property Bureau on November 25. Gen Prayut’s comment came after pro-democracy activist Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak and other protest leaders have been coming out to openly say that they can ‘smell’ a coup in the making. Gen Prayut also denied the possibility of the invocation of a martial law in response to rampant speculation over an imminent coup. A source with security agencies also reaffirmed Gen Prayut’s dismissal of coup rumours, saying that the pro-democracy protest leader’s claim is illogical. There is no reason whatsoever for the army to step in. Ahead of the pro-democracy demonstration outside the Crown Property Bureau, the prime minister also gave a stern warning that he would not allow a clash between the 2 groups and said legal action will be taken on both sides if they turn violent. Meanwhile, police are ramping up security at the Bureau. The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has dispatched 10 companies of police officers to guard the Bureau to maintain peace & order. MPB chief Pol Lt-Gen Pakkapong Pongpetra warned Khana Ratsadon group to abide by the law when they stage their protest at the office of the Crown Property Bureau. He suggested the Khana Ratsadon group not venture within 150 metres of the Crown Property Bureau. As for the leaked classified document claimed to be sent by the Ministry of Interior to provincial governors nationwide to block the masses from entering the capital during November 23-25, Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda denied that the ministry issued any instructions. He said there is no need for the ministry to do so because it is all agencies’ responsibility to carry out their duties as required by their roles to keep peace and order. Although the document was confirmed to be genuine by the MPB At the same time barb wires have been installed on top of the walls of the Crown Property Bureau and a warning sign that says, “Palace Grounds” meaning the place is off-limits. Despite Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s stern warning that he will not put up with a return of mob violence, the “Khana Phalang Pandin Siam (People’s Power of the Land of Siam)” vowed to hold rallies to protect the monarchy. Bancha Panniwat, leader of the People’s Power of the Land of Siam, issued an ultimatum that his group will not let anyone offend the royal institution any longer. Bancha said his group will hold an overnight rally from 15:00 hrs today through 8:00 hrs tomorrow along a stretch of Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem canal to protect the monarchy in the wake of the Khana Ratsadon-led rally outside the Crown Property Bureau. Bancha said the Khana Ratsadon group is free to hold rallies anywhere but it must not encroach on palace properties. Rallying at the Crown Property Bureau, which is deemed inappropriate. Bancha said his group does not condone any kind of violence and bloodshed. Meanwhile, the “People’s Network for Protection of the Monarchy” pledged to file complaints with police against those who violate Section 112 across the country. The group rallies public support for its move, telling all Thais to file complaints with police in their provinces. Police are said to speed up the process to bring fresh charges of lese majeste against protest leaders and protesters under Section 112 of the Criminal Code. Assistant national police chief Pol Lt Gen Jaruwat Waisaya will call a meeting with police investigators in charge of all cases connected with pro-democracy protests in order to bring additional charges under Section 112 against protesters. The Royal Thai Police Office also set up an investigation panel tasked with protesters who violated Section 112. The panel is headed by Pol Maj Gen Sukhun Prommayon, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB). Many of the protest leaders who will be charged with violations of the lese majeste law have been charged with inciting unrest or sedition under Section 116 of the Criminal Code. Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit will today report in to Thung Song Hong police to acknowledge a criminal charge filed by the Election Commission (EC) against him for applying to be an MP candidate knowing he was not qualified under Section 151 of the 2018 MP Election Act. Thanathorn, the ex-leader of the disbanded Future Forward Party, may face a jail term up to 10 years and a 20-year ban from politics over his media shareholding in V-Luck Media Co Ltd after the EC decided to pursue criminal charges against him. On charter amendment bids, the 45-member extraordinary committee in charge of scrutinising the charter amendment drafts before their 2nd and 3rd readings is set for its first meeting to pick its chairman. Phalang Pracharat Party (PPRP)-list MP and government chief whip Virat Ratanasate is expected to win the nomination for the chairman’s post, Chinnaworn Boonyakiat, deputy government chief whip, said. The committee Chinnaworn said the meeting will also discuss 4 issues including The composition of a new charter drafting assembly (CDA) Whether the charter drafters should be given 120 or 240 days to finish the drafting process How to amend the charter without affecting Chapters 1 and 2 on the monarchy The election of CDA. The opposition Pheu Thai Party is planning to propose to the committee to cut the extraordinary committee in charge of scrutinising the charter amendment drafts before their 2nd and 3rd to less than 45 days. The party wants the formation of a CDA be placed on parliament’s agenda for consideration in the 3 reading. Pheu Thai will put forward these proposals to the extraordinary committee. The party also proposed the election of CDA members. The CDA must be 100 per cent elected, according to Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangthong. The party also asked Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to keep his word given to the public that the charter amendment process should be completed by December this year. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, as the Democrat Party leader, said he would call a meeting with party MPs who broke the party’s resolution for accepting charter amendment bills today. Public Health Minister – Anuthin Charnvirakul, whose gaffe during the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus made him the laughing stock of the Thai cabinet, has now come out to outright deny that he is the possible candidate to be the next Prime Minister of the country after December 2, 2020. The name of Anuthin was popped as a Prime Minister in waiting by Red Shirt leader – Jatuporn Promphan, who came out to say that on December 2, 2020 there is a very high chance that Gen Prayut could be hung high and dry by the Constitutional Court when the court is set to rule on his continued occupation of the army housing that was allocated to him when he was the army chief but had to vacate it after he left the position in 2014. The Election Commission (EC) has launched a new app called “Smart Vote” for voters to report poll code violations and E-war room to facilitate the provincial administration organisation (PAO) elections scheduled for December 20. The EC has so far received 21 complaints related to PAO chairmen and council members in 11 provinces while 120 candidates were found to lack qualifications in running in the PAO elections as most of them failed to exercise their voting rights in the 2019 general election. The cabinet yesterday approved a 45-day extension of the state of emergency from December 1 to January 15 next year, its 8th extension as proposed by the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s proposal in an effort to keep infections under control during the New Year holidays, government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said. Economic News Thailand’s exports in October shrank 6.71 per cent to US$19.376 billion while imports fell 14.32 per cent to $17.33 billion. This led to a trade surplus of $2.046 billion, according to the Commerce Ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO). Thailand’s exports contracted 7.26 per cent to $192.372 billion while imports dropped 14.61 per cent to $169.702 billion in the first 10 months of this year, resulting in a trade surplus of $22.670 billion. TPSO director-general Pimchanok Vonkorpon said exports of Thai goods saw better-than-expected growth than forecast as Thailand’s international trade had improved as global economy was gradually recovering as reflected by Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index which stood at above 50 for the 4th consecutive month. The ministry maintains full-year view of 7 per cent export decline given that the country must fetch $18.329 billion a month in the remaining 2 months of the year. Overall exports are likely to see a contraction of less than 7 per cent if the value of exports in the remaining months of the year reaches 19 billion baht, Pimchanok said, adding that she was optimistic that Thailand’s exports would continue its recovery trend as the United States’ unofficial election results and COVID-19 vaccine development sent a positive signal on world trade. The Finance Ministry said it is planning to extend the 2nd phase of the co-payment scheme, to cover as many people as possible and the extension of an additional 500-baht cash subsidy benefit under the 1st phase co-payment scheme for state welfare cardholders’ credit line as New Year gifts to the public.