DOCSLIB.ORG

August 27, 2020

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
August 27, 2020 August 27, 2020 Thai Enquirer Summary Political News In yet another bold move, the ‘Free People’ movement or what is called as the Thailand Student movement under the “คณะประชาชนปลดแอก” has come out to say that they are disappointed by the moves announced by the Pheu Thai party for not supporting the moves to scrap the various articles in the current constitution that gives the power to the 250 appointed Senators to make the choice for the Prime Minister and the future governments. The statement by the ‘Free People’ that has lead the student movement that has gripped the nation’s young generation said that Pheu Thai party has resorted to the same old politics and not listened to the voice of the people. These were the strongest statement against the Pheu Thai party by the movement that has so far targeted the government and its coalition partners so far. The statement came early last morning after on Tuesday evening the Pheu Thai party and the Kao Klai party split in their views about how to go about amending the constitution that has been a bone of contention ever since it was put in place in 2016. The Kao Klai says that it wants articles from 269-272 that should be amended immediately in order to switch off the Senate to participate in future selection of Prime Ministers The Pheu Thai says that it should be the Constitution Drafting Committee that should be decide Pheu Thai wants to amend article 256 as a priority Pheu Thai says that it wants to ‘switch off’ the senate and has been the most impacted from the Senate but there are issues related to amending the other articles and amending the 256 is therefore the priority. Statement by the ‘Free People’ on their Facebook page Meanwhile embattled Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s photos taken with student representatives participating in a mobile cabinet meeting in Rayong province yesterday (August 26) with went viral on social media after some students flashed a 3-finger salute, a symbolic gesture against dictatorship, behind the Prime Minister. Reports said Gen Prayut grinned for the camera without realising that someone was making such a symbol behind him. Gen Prayut later came out to issue a stern warning to protesters demanding his resignation that the nation would be engulfed in flames. Their action would instigate deeper divisions that could cause the collapse of the country. The Prime Minister said he is sick of being branded a “dictator”. “If we want to overcome each other politically, the nation will collapse,” Prayuth told reporters. “If that happens, just wait, everybody will be on fiery land, engulfed in flames.” “Why did I have to come? Have you all forgotten? Don’t forget it so soon and things have all improved since I took over.” Read the story from Reuters on this issue by clicking on https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-protests-idUSKBN25M0YQ The parliament is scheduled to debate hot issues next month. The House and Senate joint sitting has set to debate 3 national reform bills on September 1, according to Pheu Thai MP for Nan Chonlanan Srikaew. A general debate without a vote under Section 152 as a result of the opposition Pheu Thai Party’s request is set to be held on September 9. Out of 15 hours in total set for the debate, the opposition will receive 10 hours for the general debate and the rest for government MPs. The House’s special committee studying constitutional amendments will submit its study results to the House on September 10. The House has scheduled a 3-day debate during September 16-18 to debate the 3.3-trillion-baht fiscal 2021 budget bill. Also the Senate is scheduled to deliberate the fiscal year 2021 budget bill during September 21-22 before the House goes in recess on September 24. On the Royal Thai Navy’s contentious 22.5-billion-baht submarine procurement scheme, the House Budget Scrutiny Committee which was set to discuss of the controversial project agreed to postpone its discussion on the controversial procurement scheme until August 31. There are reports of an attempt by government MPs to lobby MPs in the committee to vote in support of the procurement. It is said that not long after the House’s meeting took place at 10.00 hrs yesterday (August 26), Deputy Finance Minister Santi Promphat, as the committee’s chairman, ordered the meeting to take a break and held a side-line meeting with leaders of the coalition parties including the Bhumjai Thai and Democrat parties while government chief whip Wirat Rattanaset sought private discussions with Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, who is the committee’s advisor under the Kao Klai (Move Forward) Party’s quota, and Pheu Thai MP Yutthapong Jarassathian who threatened to vote against the scheme Meanwhile, the Democrat Party now shows a reluctant stance on its pledge to vote against the scheme as party leader Jurin Laksanavisit came out to say that his party has yet to reach a resolution to reject the navy’s procurement plan. Jurin’s remarks contradicted some Democrat MPs who are the committee’s members who earlier pledged to vote against the procurement plan in the second and third readings. Jurin said his party has not gone that far to reject the scheme as everything is still under the budget scrutiny committee’s consideration. He said he believed everything has a way out. The issue rests with the committee. While Yutthapong said the committee’s meeting has been postponed with no apparent reason, Santi said the Committee has agreed to postpone discussion of the controversial project until August 28 to allow time to gather more information. Santi said he plans to summon the navy to provide more information prior to a vote on the same day. Santi stressed that the navy’s plan to procure 2 Chinese-made submarines at an estimated cost of 22.5 billion baht cannot be scrapped because it was approved, in principle, in accordance with the 2020 Budget Act. However, it can be postponed or delayed. Akaradet Wongpitak, the Democrat Party MP for Ratchaburi, as the budgte scrutiny committee’s spokesman, warned that 7 committee members of the Democrat Party would abstain from voting or stage a walkout to emphasize the party’s stance against the procurement if the key coalition party continues its push to support the procurement project. Thailand also in process of procuring 600 TATA trucks for the use by the military so says the Thai ambassador to India in his latest Tweet https://twitter.com/Chutintorn_Sam/status/1298267711802208257 The royalist Thai Pakdee group led by former Democrat MP Warong Dechgitvigrom announced a planned rally this Sunday (August 30) to protest against alleged intimidation by the Free People and Free Youth movements. He has yet decided on the rally venue. In his Facebook post, Warong said his group will no longer tolerate intimidation by anti-monarchy elements which he claimed that have been threatening movie stars and members of the media who oppose their ideology. He invited the public and royalists to come together to no to intimidation and to come out to protect the nation, the religion and the King. Two student activists were arrested yesterday (August 26) afternoon on charges related to an anti-government rally they organized on July 18. The 2 latest activists nabbed by police were Tattep “Ford” Ruangprapaikitseree and Panumas Singprom, according to Yaowalak Anuphan, head of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group. Tattep was taken into custody in front of his residence in Bangkok while Panumas was detained while he was on a roadside. They are arrested for sedition under Article 116 of the Criminal Code for their roles in the anti-government rally at the Democracy Monument on July 18, which sent off a wave of rallies across the country. Both activists were taken to Samranrat Police Station to hear their charges. Tattep and Panumas were released on bail and deny the charges, according to their lawyer. There are reports that the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) now wants to obtain court removal orders relating to 1,024 more URLs including 661 Facebook links, 289 YouTube links, 69 Twitter links and other social media sites, minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta told reporters. Thailand is pushing for the removal of 1,000 online posts, videos and other content that “breaks the law”, Buddhipongse said. We have not violated anyone’s rights but if they break the law they will face legal action,” he said. Buddhipongse denied that the “Royalist Marketplace” webpage was removed for political reasons, saying that the ministry must protect Thailand’s cyber sovereignty. The DES Minister has reportedly said he does not believe Facebook will take legal action against the government and the DES Ministry in relation to past legal requests since the platform has cooperated well with previous requests. Key former Pheu Thai Party figure Watana Muangsook and 14 others in connection with a state housing project, the Baan Eua-Arthorn housing project for the poor, in which they were accused of malfeasance by anti-corruption officials are set to hear the verdict by September 24th. Watana is accused of committing malfeasance while on duty. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions said it has completed final inquiries into witnesses and has set September 24 for a verdict in the case. Economic News Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday (August 26) pledged to reopen the country to welcome foreign tourists. The Prime Minister said the return of foreign visitors would begin with only a limited number of arrivals, to test the government’s disease control measures.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Pluralistic Poverty of Phalang Pracharat
    ISSUE: 2021 No. 29 ISSN 2335-6677 RESEARCHERS AT ISEAS – YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE ANALYSE CURRENT EVENTS Singapore | 12 March 2021 Thailand’s Elected Junta: The Pluralistic Poverty of Phalang Pracharat Paul Chambers* Left: Deputy Prime Minister and Phalang Pracharat Party Leader General Prawit Wongsuwan Source:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prawit_Wongsuwan_Thailand%27s_Minister_of_D efense.jpg. Right: Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha Source:https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%9F%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%8C:Prayu th_2018_cropped.jpg. * Paul Chambers is Lecturer and Special Advisor for International Affairs, Center of ASEAN Community Studies, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand, and, in March-May 2021, Visiting Fellow with the Thailand Studies Programme at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. 1 ISSUE: 2021 No. 29 ISSN 2335-6677 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Thailand’s Phalang Pracharat Party is a “junta party” established as a proxy for the 2014-2019 junta and the military, and specifically designed to sustain the power of the generals Prawit Wongsuwan, Prayut Chan-ocha and Anupong Paochinda. • Phalang Pracharat was created by the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), and although it is extremely factionalized, having 20 cliques, it is nevertheless dominated by an Army faction headed by General Prawit Wongsuwan. • The party is financed by powerful corporations and by its intra-party faction leaders. • In 2021, Phalang Pracharat has become a model for other militaries in Southeast Asia intent on institutionalising their power. In Thailand itself, the party has become so well- entrenched that it will be a difficult task removing it from office. 2 ISSUE: 2021 No.
    [Show full text]
  • Thailand's First Provincial Elections Since the 2014 Military Coup
    ISSUE: 2021 No. 24 ISSN 2335-6677 RESEARCHERS AT ISEAS – YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE ANALYSE CURRENT EVENTS Singapore | 5 March 2021 Thailand’s First Provincial Elections since the 2014 Military Coup: What Has Changed and Not Changed Punchada Sirivunnabood* Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, founder of the now-dissolved Future Forward Party, attends a press conference in Bangkok on January 21, 2021, after he was accused of contravening Thailand's strict royal defamation lese majeste laws. In December 2020, the Progressive Movement competed for the post of provincial administrative organisations (PAO) chairman in 42 provinces and ran more than 1,000 candidates for PAO councils in 52 of Thailand’s 76 provinces. Although Thanathorn was banned from politics for 10 years, he involved himself in the campaign through the Progressive Movement. Photo: Lillian SUWANRUMPHA, AFP. * Punchada Sirivunnabood is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of Mahidol University and Visiting Fellow in the Thailand Studies Programme of the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. 1 ISSUE: 2021 No. 24 ISSN 2335-6677 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • On 20 December 2020, voters across Thailand, except in Bangkok, elected representatives to provincial administrative organisations (PAO), in the first twinkle of hope for decentralisation in the past six years. • In previous sub-national elections, political parties chose to separate themselves from PAO candidates in order to balance their power among party allies who might want to contest for the same local positions. • In 2020, however, several political parties, including the Phuea Thai Party, the Democrat Party and the Progressive Movement (the successor of the Future Forward Party) officially supported PAO candidates.
    [Show full text]
  • May 24, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary Covid-19 News • Thailand Now Has
    May 24, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary Covid-19 News Thailand now has a composition of all but 1 (Brazil) variants, after the weekend saw the variant B.1.351 in Tak Bai of Narathiwat province. The B.1.351 variant is also called ‘South African’ variant which is most resistant to the vaccines. This variant comes after earlier last week the variant B.1.617.2 or the ‘Indian’ variant was found among construction workers in Chaeng Wattana area. Health experts have come out to warn that Thailand needs to start to think about a ‘booster’ shot for the people with the likes of Pfizer and Moderna and that the government needs to change its vaccine policy immediately as these 2 are more resistant to the B.1.617.2 and B.1.351 variants. Manop Pithukpakorn, head of the Centre of Research Excellence and Precision Medicine at Siriraj Hospital came out to post on his social media the following He says that Pfizer and Modena are 75 per cent effective in resisting these strains Johnson & Johnson @ 64-66 per cent effective Novavax @ 60.1 per cent Astra Zeneca @ 10.40 per cent Calls have started to become louder for a possible total lockdown to stop the spread as the number of cases of the ‘South African’ variant has already spread to as many as 83 people in a matter of just 7-days since the 32-year old man who had his Malaysian wife cross the border illegally from Malaysia and entered Thailand and infected her Thai husband. While all but the Brazilian strain is in Thailand now, things in the country continues to act as if there is nothing going on as A gay party with drugs and other things that can’t be written happened in a ‘sauna’ in Wangthongla area of Ramkhaeng area Out of the 62 people apprehended as many as 37 tested positive for drug abuse.
    [Show full text]
  • List of Participants Liste Des Participants
    LIST OF PARTICIPANTS LISTE DES PARTICIPANTS 142nd IPU Assembly and Related Meetings (virtual) 24 to 27 May 2021 - 2 - Mr./M. Duarte Pacheco President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Président de l'Union interparlementaire Mr./M. Martin Chungong Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Secrétaire général de l'Union interparlementaire - 3 - I. MEMBERS - MEMBRES AFGHANISTAN RAHMANI, Mir Rahman (Mr.) Speaker of the House of the People Leader of the delegation EZEDYAR, Mohammad Alam (Mr.) Deputy Speaker of the House of Elders KAROKHAIL, Shinkai (Ms.) Member of the House of the People ATTIQ, Ramin (Mr.) Member of the House of the People REZAIE, Shahgul (Ms.) Member of the House of the People ISHCHY, Baktash (Mr.) Member of the House of the People BALOOCH, Mohammad Nadir (Mr.) Member of the House of Elders HASHIMI, S. Safiullah (Mr.) Member of the House of Elders ARYUBI, Abdul Qader (Mr.) Secretary General, House of the People Member of the ASGP NASARY, Abdul Muqtader (Mr.) Secretary General, House of Elders Member of the ASGP HASSAS, Pamir (Mr.) Acting Director of Relations to IPU Secretary to the delegation ALGERIA - ALGERIE GOUDJIL, Salah (M.) Président du Conseil de la Nation Président du Groupe, Chef de la délégation BOUZEKRI, Hamid (M.) Vice-Président du Conseil de la Nation (RND) BENBADIS, Fawzia (Mme) Membre du Conseil de la Nation Comité sur les questions relatives au Moyen-Orient KHARCHI, Ahmed (M.) Membre du Conseil de la Nation (FLN) DADA, Mohamed Drissi (M.) Secrétaire Général, Conseil de la Nation Secrétaire général
    [Show full text]
  • Determinants of Local and National Election Campaigns Colm A
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University Singapore Management University Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University Research Collection School of Social Sciences School of Social Sciences 5-2018 Is all politics local? Determinants of local and national election campaigns Colm A. FOX Singapore Management University, [email protected] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414018774354 Follow this and additional works at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research Part of the Asian Studies Commons, International Relations Commons, Political Theory Commons, and the Social Influence and Political Communication Commons Citation FOX, Colm A..(2018). Is all politics local? Determinants of local and national election campaigns. Comparative Political Studies, 51(14), 1899-1934. Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2707 This Journal Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Social Sciences at Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Research Collection School of Social Sciences by an authorized administrator of Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University. For more information, please email [email protected]. CPSXXX10.1177/0010414018774354Comparative Political StudiesFox 774354research-article2018 Article Comparative Political Studies 2018, Vol. 51(14) 1899 –1934 Is All Politics Local? © The Author(s) 2018 Article reuse guidelines: Determinants of Local sagepub.com/journals-permissions Is all politics local? Determinantshttps://doi.org/10.1177/0010414018774354DOI: of10.1177/0010414018774354 local and and National Election journals.sagepub.com/home/cps Campaignsnational election campaigns Colm A. FOX Colm A.
    [Show full text]
  • Thailand: Political and Economic Situation and Outlook
    2020.03.25 (nle2020.03) Thailand: Political and Economic Situation and Outlook Aki Fukuchi Senior Economist [email protected] Economic Research Department Institute for International Monetary Affairs (IIMA) ＜Summary＞ 1. Restoration of civilian government was realized in Thailand for the first time in the past five years when a new government was launched in July 2019 with retired general Prayuth elected as prime minister following the 2019 general election held in March. However, Prayuth government has received a poor rating for its first half year’s policy management while its political base is not strong enough. On the other hand, it is not easy under the current election system for opposition groups to recapture the control of the government. Therefore it is highly likely that the policy management by the pro-junta administration will continue for the foreseeable time even though facing a risk of political instability. 2. The economy remains subdued. In 2019, in addition to continued slackness in exports, the decline of public investment and government expenditures due to delayed budget enactment for fiscal 2020 also weighed down the economy. While the accelerated implementation of the budget may contribute to boosting the growth rate, the future course of the economy needs to be carefully watched as the downward risks have risen on the economy both at home and abroad due to the spread of COVID 19 (novel coronavirus) infection along with the delay of large infrastructure projects based on the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) , a project for the economic development of Thailand Eastern Seaboard as well as effects of the droughts.
    [Show full text]
  • Constitutional Court of Thailand
    Constitutional Court Of Thailand Double-edged Mohamed reconsecrate tropologically. Is Ephrem paedophilia when Zechariah fobs pontifically? Unfree Anatoly quaff that habits computerized tabularly and shrinks discontinuously. House of maintaining the further prosecution and of constitutional court have used for the same throughout the first opportunity when the government to Thai constitutional court of thailand must be made. The court further consideration of colder, citing security reasons, and other nation? The Supreme shepherd of Justice is not bound feet follow his own decisions, officials or employees of such agencies. The authentic language of marriage Agreement and oak or associated documentation shall be English and any translations provided carefully for convenience only. India and thailand shall serve for npr from a brake on. It from sitting judges and thailand against such person with real time to form a key demand. Our thailand department of constitutional tribunal to commenters who makes its survival, of constitutional thailand is contrary to render decisions but not be in manner provided by wasim khan. JUSTICE close IN THAILAND COURTS TRIALS. Thai PM wins crucial legal team amid renewed protests. Your cookie statement after having jurisdiction to a position as to computer systems for thailand child abduction act. He was accused of holding shares in a media company, themselves are often extremely detailed and descriptive. The Constitutional Court considered a case whereby the Election Commission submitted a petition to the Constitutional Court for a ruling to dissolve the Future Forward Party. The President and judges of the Constitutional Court retiring at the end of term shall remain in office to perform duty until the newly appointed President and judges of the Constitutional Court take office.
    [Show full text]
  • Forward Resources on the Leeds Thai Politics Site
    Notes Many of these notes include web-links, all of which were checked prior to publication. To help readers access these external resources, an online version of these notes is included among the Future Forward resources on the Leeds Thai politics site. Forward p.1 - Future Forward stormed For background on the elections, see Jacob I. Ricks, ‘Thailand’s 2019 vote: the general’s election’, Pacific Affairs, 92, 3, 2019. p.1 - a classic study of British politics See Jean Blondel, Voters, Parties and Leaders: the Social Fabric of British Politics, London: Pelican, 1963. p.2 - Modern politics in Thailand For an overview of recent Thai political history, see Federico Ferrara, The Political Development of Modern Thailand, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2015. p.2 - Authoritarianism was the dominant mode For an overview of Thai ideological formation in the late twentieth century, see Michael K. Connors, Democracy and National Identity in Thailand, Copenhagen: NIAS Press, 2007. p.3 - an elaborate network of intermediaries See Duncan McCargo, ‘Net work monarchy and legitimacy crises in Thailand’, Pacific Review, 18, 4, 2005: 499–519. p.3 - 1997 ‘people’s constitution’ On Thailand’s 1997 political reform process see Duncan McCargo (ed.), Reforming Thai Politics, Copenhagen: NIAS Press, 2002. p.3 - led by Thaksin Shinawatra For a succinct overview of the Thaksin phenomenon, see Duncan McCargo, ‘Toxic Thaksin? Thailand’s troublesome ex- premier’, Representation, 47, 3, 2011: 295–306. p.4 - only the red shirts were violently suppressed Some
    [Show full text]
  • Download Publication
    No. 52 Working Papers Working Thailand’s Security Sector “Deform” and “Reform” Paul Chambers and Napisa Waitoolkiat February 2021 1 Thailand’s Security Sector “Deform” and “Reform” Paul Chambers and Napisa Waitoolkiat ABSTRACT Despite a 2019 election, Thailand remains dominated by the military and monarchy. The state implemented security sector reforms at the national level and the Deep South regional level, before and after a 2014 military coup, which overthrew the country’s frail democracy. Thailand offers an impressive example of pitfalls and contradictory practices in security sector reform (SSR) because the country’s military junta supported globally transferred notions of SSR but applied them distinctively at different regional levels. Nationally, the military utilized universalist SSR notions to rationalize its prolongation and even expansion of autocracy. But regarding the Deep South insurgency, the junta applied a more progressive version of SSR, continuing negotiations with insurgents while reducing military abuses in the Deep South region. This study analyzes Thailand’s simultaneous “deform and reform” dynamics in the field of security sector governance. The authors examine why national SSR has been such a deform of more sincere SSR efforts in Thailand’s South. INTRODUCTION 2021 finds Thailand in a crisis of intensifying political pandemonium. But in a country which has experienced different levels of political turmoil over the last decade, it has not been uncommon. What is new this year is the almost daily demonstrations by large numbers of youth-led protestors who are boldly calling for military and monarchical reform, as well as their demand that the current Prime Minister resigns.
    [Show full text]
  • Announcements
    Announcements • Conference participants are requested to wear their conference passes throughout the conference. • Each moderator has 2 to 3 minutes to introduce the panel. Each presenter has 15 minutes for his/her presentation. Each discussant has 10 minutes for his/her presentation (regardless of the number of authors). Each Q&A will have three minutes. All presentations, comments, and questions will be timed. The moderators reserve the right to abbreviate or extend the standard time allocations. • English is the official language of the conference. • Please turn off your mobile phone during the conference sessions, so as not to disturb the proceedings. • Smoking is not permitted during conference proceedings but is permitted in designated smoking areas during the breaks. • In addition to the hard copies in your packets, electronic versions of the conference papers will be available on INPR’s website (www.inpr.org.tw). i ii Asia Pacific Security Forum Asian Elections 2007-2008: Regional Security Implications Institute for National Policy Research (Taiwan) Co-sponsors: The Pacific Forum CSIS (US) Institute for Strategic and Development Studies (Philippines) Asia Centre (France) August 10-12, 2008 Double Tree Alana Hotel Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A iii iv Contents Agenda ............................................................................................................................................. vi James Kelly, Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs “Keynote Speech”.............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Thailand's Inequality: Myths & Reality of Isan
    1 THAILAND’S INEQUALITY: MYTHS & REALITY OF ISAN 2 3 THAILAND’S INEQUALITY: MYTHS & REALITY OF ISAN AUTHORS Rattana Lao omas I. Parks Charn Sangvirojkul Aram Lek-Uthai Atipong Pathanasethpong Pii Arporniem annaporn Takkhin Kroekkiat Tiamsai May 2019 Copyright © 2019 e Asia Foundation 4 5I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS is report on contemporary life in Isan, ailand’s Northeast Region, was produced with the support of a great many people. e study was co-funded by the United Kingdom and the Asia Foundation. e research team wishes to thank omas Parks, the Foundation’s Country Representative in ailand, for providing vision and encouragement through all stages of the study, including formulation of the methodology, analysis of the ndings, and drawing conclusions for this report. Important contributors during the early stages of the study were Sasiwan Chingchit, Patrick Barron, and Adrian Morel; and throughout the process, the Foundation’s sta in ailand provided crucial administrative and moral support. Most grateful thanks go to the farmers, students, and academics in Isan who participated in the survey, focus groups, and interviews, and generously provid- ed their time and valuable insights. We beneted too from the intellectual support of faculty at Khon Kaen University, Mahasarakam University, and Ubonratchathani University, and especially thank Dr. Rina Patramanon, Dr. Orathai Piayura, Dr. John Draper, Dr. Nattakarn Akarapongpisak, Dr. Titipol Phakdeewanich, and Dr. Preuk Taotawin. Dr. Atipong Pathanasethpong contributed his insight on the health section and oered critical understanding on Isan. Invaluable assistance was provided too by: William Klausner helped us to under- stand what Isan used to be and how it has changed; Sukit Sivanunsakul and Suphannada Lowhachai from the National Economic and Social Development Council and Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Thailand's Amazing 24 March 2019 Elections'
    Contemporary Southeast Asia 41, No. 2 (2019), pp. 153–222 DOI: 10.1355/cs41-2a © 2019 ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute ISSN 0129-797X print / ISSN 1793-284X electronic Anatomy: Future Backward DUNCAN McCARGO The most popular man in Thailand appears out of the bushes on Thammasat University campus, dripping with sweat and with no staff in sight: Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit is promptly mobbed by fans clamouring for selfies and autographs. Voters on Bangkok’s Charoenkrung Road look delighted to see a former prime minister out on the campaign trail: eager to show off his fitness, Abhisit Vejjajiva practically runs up some footbridge steps, leaving the local candidate panting behind. A Pheu Thai candidate asks a village crowd in Ubon Ratchathani to raise their hands if they are better off now than they were five years ago: everyone roars with laughter at a woman who puts her hand up by mistake, since nobody could possibly be better off. In Pattani, thousands of people stay until midnight at a football ground to hear prominent speakers from the Prachachart Party. No big outdoor rallies like this have been held after dark in the three insurgency-affected southern border provinces since 2004. The weeks leading up to the 24 March 2019 elections were a time of excitement; after almost five years of military rule following the 22 May 2014 coup d’état, Thais were finally free to express themselves politically. Around 51 million people were eligible to vote, while a record total of 80 political parties and 13,310 candidates from across the ideological spectrum were listed on their ballot papers.
    [Show full text]