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Thailand White Paper
THE BANGKOK MASSACRES: A CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY ―A White Paper by Amsterdam & Peroff LLP EXECUTIVE SUMMARY For four years, the people of Thailand have been the victims of a systematic and unrelenting assault on their most fundamental right — the right to self-determination through genuine elections based on the will of the people. The assault against democracy was launched with the planning and execution of a military coup d’état in 2006. In collaboration with members of the Privy Council, Thai military generals overthrew the popularly elected, democratic government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose Thai Rak Thai party had won three consecutive national elections in 2001, 2005 and 2006. The 2006 military coup marked the beginning of an attempt to restore the hegemony of Thailand’s old moneyed elites, military generals, high-ranking civil servants, and royal advisors (the “Establishment”) through the annihilation of an electoral force that had come to present a major, historical challenge to their power. The regime put in place by the coup hijacked the institutions of government, dissolved Thai Rak Thai and banned its leaders from political participation for five years. When the successor to Thai Rak Thai managed to win the next national election in late 2007, an ad hoc court consisting of judges hand-picked by the coup-makers dissolved that party as well, allowing Abhisit Vejjajiva’s rise to the Prime Minister’s office. Abhisit’s administration, however, has since been forced to impose an array of repressive measures to maintain its illegitimate grip and quash the democratic movement that sprung up as a reaction to the 2006 military coup as well as the 2008 “judicial coups.” Among other things, the government blocked some 50,000 web sites, shut down the opposition’s satellite television station, and incarcerated a record number of people under Thailand’s infamous lèse-majesté legislation and the equally draconian Computer Crimes Act. -
Conflict in Southern Thailand
ARC Federation Fellowship Islam, Syari’ah and Governance BACKGROUND PAPER SERIES Conflict in Southern Thailand: Causes, Agents and Trajectory John Funston ARC Federation Fellowship “Islam and Modernity: Syari’ah, Terrorism and Governance in South-East Asia” Professor Tim Lindsey was appointed as an ARC Federation Fellow in 2006, a 5-year appointment funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC). Professor Lindsey will research “Islam and Modernity: Syari’ah, Terrorism and Governance in South-East Asia”. Terrorism in Southeast Asia responds to challenges that western-derived modernity poses for Islam, including market economies, democracy and nation states. Professor Lindsey will examine the different responses to these challenges through research in regional Muslim communities, institution building, mentoring young scholars and community ARC Federation engagement in the Southeast Asian region. The Fellowship also aims to help strengthen Fellowship: the University of Melbourne’s new Centre for Islamic Law and Society as a hub for Islam, Syari’ah research and public engagement on issues related to Islam and law in our region. He and aims to achieve a better understanding in Australia of Islam and terrorism in Southeast Governance Asia and thereby strengthen Australia’s capacity to navigate our regional relationships. Background Islam, Syari’ah and Governance Background Paper Series Paper The Islam, Syari’ah and Governance Background Paper Series seeks to provide a consid- ered analysis of important issues relevant to Islam, syari’ah and governance in Southeast Asia. The Background Paper Series is distributed widely amongst government, business, aca- demic and community organisations. Please contact the Centre for Islamic Law and Society at [email protected] if you would like to receive future editions of the Series. -
Major Developments in Thailand's Political Crisis
Major developments in Thailand’s political crisis More unrest and policy paralysis are likely as Thailand prepares for early elections. The country has suffered five years of political turbulence and sporadic street violence after former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a 2006 coup. Thaksin currently commands a powerful opposition movement, standing in the way of current prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva. SET index GDP growth – % chg y/y 1200 15 1000 10 I 800 H O 5 D B PQ C G E F 600 J 0 N M 400 KL -5 A 200 -10 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2001 2008 cont... A January 6 J September Thaksin Shinawatra’s Thais Love Thais (Thai Rak Thai) party wins Samak found guilty of violating constitution by hosting TV cooking 248 of 500 seats in parliamentary election. shows while in office and had to quit. Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin’s brother-in-law at the time, is elected prime minister by 2005 parliament. B February 6 K October 21 Thailand voters hand Thaksin Shinawatra a second term with The Supreme Court sentences Thaksin to two years in jail in expanded mandate. absentia for breaking a conflict-of-interest law. C September L November 25 Sondhi Limthongkul, a former Thaksin business associate, starts PAD protesters storm Bangkok’s main airport, halting all flights. Up the yellow-shirted People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) street to 250,000 foreign tourists are stranded. campaign to oust Thaksin. M December Constitutional Court disbands the PPP and bans Somchai from 2006 politics for five years for electoral fraud. -
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“PM STANDS ON HIS CRIPPLED LEGITINACY“ Wandah Waenawea CONCEPTS Political legitimacy:1 The foundation of such governmental power as is exercised both with a consciousness on the government’s part that it has a right to govern and with some recognition by the governed of that right. Political power:2 Is a type of power held by a group in a society which allows administration of some or all of public resources, including labor, and wealth. There are many ways to obtain possession of such power. Demonstration:3 Is a form of nonviolent action by groups of people in favor of a political or other cause, normally consisting of walking in a march and a meeting (rally) to hear speakers. Actions such as blockades and sit-ins may also be referred to as demonstrations. A political rally or protest Red shirt: The term5inology and the symbol of protester (The government of Abbhisit Wejjajiva). 1 Sternberger, Dolf “Legitimacy” in International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences (ed. D.L. Sills) Vol. 9 (p. 244) New York: Macmillan, 1968 2 I.C. MacMillan (1978) Strategy Formulation: political concepts, St Paul, MN, West Publishing; 3 Oxford English Dictionary Volume 1 | Number 1 | January-June 2013 15 Yellow shirt: The terminology and the symbol of protester (The government of Thaksin Shinawat). Political crisis:4 Is any unstable and dangerous social situation regarding economic, military, personal, political, or societal affairs, especially one involving an impending abrupt change. More loosely, it is a term meaning ‘a testing time’ or ‘emergency event. CHAPTER I A. Background Since 2008, there has been an ongoing political crisis in Thailand in form of a conflict between thePeople’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the People’s Power Party (PPP) governments of Prime Ministers Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat, respectively, and later between the Democrat Party government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD). -
Mr. Somchai Wongsawat
Mr. Somchai Wongsawat Minister of Education Personal Data Name Mr. Somchai Wongsawat Date of Birth August 31, 1947 Marital Status Married Address 100/159 Soi 23/2 Chonlada Village, Bangkruay - Sainoi Rd., Bangbuathong, Nonthaburi Educational Background 2002 Master of Public Administration (Public and Private Management (MPPM)), National Institute of Development Administration 1996 National Defense College of Thailand 1973 Barrister-at-Law, the Thai Bar 1970 Bachelor of Laws, Thammasat University Work Experience February 6, 2008 - Present Minister of Education 2008 Committee Member of the Thai Bar under the patronage of His Majesty the King 2007 Member of the House of Representatives (Party List) 2007 Deputy Leader of People Power Party March, 8-September, 2006 Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour November 11, 1999 – March, 2006 Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice 1998-1999 Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice 1997 Chief Justice, Court of Appeal Region II 1993 Justice, Court of Appeal Region III 1990 Chief Justice, Thonburi Criminal Court 1989 Chief Justice, Nonthaburi Court 1988 Chief Justice, Chonburi Court 1987 Chief Justice, Rayong Juvenile Court 1986 Chief Justice, Pang-nga Court 1983 Judge, Chiangrai Court 1977 Judge, Chiangmai Court 1976 Judge, Chiangmai-Kwaeng Court 1975 Judge, Ministry of Justice 1974 Assistant Judge, Ministry of Justice Other experience 1999-2006 Chairman of Committee (Laws field), National Research Council of Thailand Member of Board, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Member of -
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. -
November 5, 2020 Thai Enquirer Summary Political News • As The
November 5, 2020 Thai Enquirer Summary Political News As the world holds its breath to see who will make it to becoming the next president of the United States, the results that are flowing in are making it look a little clearer. As of 09:00 Thai time Joe Biden was leading in every count that is being declared o 264:214 Domestically embattled Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s fate will be decided by the Constitutional Court early next month over his alleged unlawful occupation of an army residence amid constant calls from pro-democracy protesters that carried out months-long rallies. The Constitutional Court set December 2 to rule on a case against Gen Prayut for his prolonged stay in the army-owned residence. The court’s ruling is a result of the opposition’s petition filed by Pheu Thai Party and opposition leader Sompong Amornwiwat who asked the court to consider if Gen Prayut should be disqualified as prime minister and defence minister for remaining in a military house beyond retirement, breaking army regulations and Section 170(4), and Section 184 (3) of the constitution. Pro-democracy activists came out to reject a parliament-initiated plans to form a reconciliation committee, calling it a “political ploy to buy time,” and reiterated the demand for the immediate resignation of embattled Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o- cha. The protesters have spurned Gen Prayut’s request to join the so-called reconciliation committee appointed through the parliamentary process to resolve ongoing political problems. The proposed committee is poised to discuss the demands of the protesters in a bid to ease political tensions and restart the stalled process for charter amendment later this month. -
New Government in Thailand Struggles to Defeat the Insurgency
FEBRUARY 2009 . VOL 2 . ISSUE 2 New Government in in 2007. In July of that year, the Thai monarchy, he pledged to implement army chief, General Anupong Paojinda, greater civilian oversight. Abhisit spoke Thailand Struggles to launched his own “surge” in order to of the Democrat Party’s deep ties to the Defeat the Insurgency suppress the violence. Following the south, their traditional stronghold. drafting of a new constitution and the He reiterated the failed pledges of the By Zachary Abuza restoration of democracy in December Surayud regime to engage in samanchan, 2007, a government comprised of or reconciliation. “My basic assumption since the september 2006 coup in Thaksin’s former Thai Rak Thai Party is that you will never have reconciliation Thailand, attention has been focused on emerged under Samak Sundaravej, re- unless there is justice,” he said before the country’s rapid political turnover branded as the People’s Power Party his one-day trip there in mid-January. and instability. Yet the Malay-Muslim (PPP). Fearful of another coup, Samak “The same principle applies to the insurgency in the country’s three and his successor, Somchai Wongsawat, south.”3 This does not bode well for the southern-most provinces of Pattani, had a completely hands off policy in south and suggests that little progress Yala, and Narathiwat has continued the south, letting the military have full will be made under the leadership of unabated. The new government in control. Both offered no resistance to not the Democrats in the coming years; Bangkok has stated that resolving the only the military’s massive budgetary they still fail to see the insurgency insurgency is one of its top priorities, expenditures, but two waves of major for what it is, not acknowledging the and it has spoken of the need for weapons acquisitions, the vast majority goals of the insurgents to establish an reconciliation and social justice. -
The Democracy Monument: Ideology, Identity, and Power Manifested in Built Forms อนสาวรุ ยี ประชาธ์ ปไตยิ : อดมการณุ ์ เอกลกษณั ์ และอำนาจ สอผ่ื านงานสถาป่ ตยกรรมั
The Democracy Monument: Ideology, Identity, and Power Manifested in Built Forms อนสาวรุ ยี ประชาธ์ ปไตยิ : อดมการณุ ์ เอกลกษณั ์ และอำนาจ สอผ่ื านงานสถาป่ ตยกรรมั Assistant Professor Koompong Noobanjong, Ph.D. ผชู้ วยศาสตราจารย่ ์ ดร. คมพงศุ้ ์ หนบรรจงู Faculty of Industrial Education, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang คณะครุศาสตร์อุตสาหกรรม สถาบันเทคโนโลยีพระจอมเกล้าเจ้าคุณทหารลาดกระบัง Abstract This research article examines the methods of power mediation in the design of the Democracy Monument in Bangkok, Thailand. It examines its underlying concept and mechanisms for conveying political power and social practice, along with the national and cultural identity that operates under an ideological framework. The study consists of two major parts. First, it investigates the monument as a political form of architecture: a symbolic device for the state to manifest, legitimize, and maintain power. The focus then shifts to an architectural form of politics: the ways in which ordinary citizens re-appropriated the Democracy Monument through semantic subversions to perform their social and political activities as well as to form their modern identities. Via the discourse theory, the analytical and critical discussions further reveal complexity, incongruity, and contradiction of meanings in the design of the monument in addition to paradoxical relationships with its setting, Rajadamnoen Avenue, which resulted from changes in the country’s socio-political situations. บทคดยั อ่ งานวิจัยชิ้นนี้ศึกษากระบวนการสื่อผ่านอำนาจอนุสาวรีย์ประชาธิปไตย -
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 -
(Title of the Thesis)*
University of Huddersfield Repository Treewai, Pichet Political Economy of Media Development and Management of the Media in Bangkok Original Citation Treewai, Pichet (2015) Political Economy of Media Development and Management of the Media in Bangkok. Doctoral thesis, University of Huddersfield. This version is available at http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/26449/ The University Repository is a digital collection of the research output of the University, available on Open Access. Copyright and Moral Rights for the items on this site are retained by the individual author and/or other copyright owners. Users may access full items free of charge; copies of full text items generally can be reproduced, displayed or performed and given to third parties in any format or medium for personal research or study, educational or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge, provided: • The authors, title and full bibliographic details is credited in any copy; • A hyperlink and/or URL is included for the original metadata page; and • The content is not changed in any way. For more information, including our policy and submission procedure, please contact the Repository Team at: [email protected]. http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/ POLITICAL ECONOMY OF MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE MEDIA IN BANGKOK PICHET TREEWAI A thesis submitted to the University of Huddersfield in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Strategy, Marketing and Economics The University of Huddersfield March 2015 Abstract This study is important due to the crucial role of media in the dissemination of information, especially in emerging economies, such as Thailand. -
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej 1927-2016 KINGDOM GRIEVES
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej 1927-2016 KINGDOM GRIEVES INSIGHTFUL, IN TREND, INDEPENDENT nationmultimedia.com I facebook.com/nationnews I twitter: @nationNews I FRIDAY, October 14, 2016 12 PAGES, VOLUME 41, NO 54920 / Bt30 THE NATION I Friday, October 14, 2016 I 2 END OF A GREAT REIGN The King waves to a crowd of hundreds of thousands gathered at the Royal Plaza on June 9, 2006 to celebrate his 60th anniversary on the throne. Truly the King of hearts THE LONGEST-REIGNING MONARCH WON THE DEVOTION OF HIS SUBJECTS WITH HIS COMMITMENT TO THEIR WELFARE URISARA KOWITDAMRONG THE NATION HIS MAJESTY King Bhumibol Statement Adulyadej rose to the greatest heights in modern Thai history and was, in his lifetime, the pillar by Royal and soul of his nation. Like his grandfather King Household Rama V, His Majesty made enor- mous contributions to his country, commanding deep love and loyal- Bureau ty from his people. He was the guiding light, helping his THE ROYAL Household Bureau Kingdom in times of crisis time announced the passing of His and again. Majesty the King in a statement During his seven-decade-long released yesterday. reign, His Majesty peacefully It said that King Bhumibol defused several political situa- Adulyadej passed away at 3.52pm tions, such as the tumult in at Siriraj Hospital, where he had October 1973 and Black May in been treated since October 3, 1992 – something no Thai politi- 2014. cian was able to accomplish then “The team of physicians or later. offered treatment to the best of His reign spanned the terms of their ability.