February 24, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary Political News Thailand is set to receive Covid-19 vaccines today from China’s Sinovac and the Oxford- Astrazeneca, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. On the political front, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is said to lose his temper with the media again when he was asked the popular social media “Clubhouse” application after former prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra showed up on the app, showing his support for young people’s call for charter amendments. Thaksin joined the February 22 forum as special guest under the name “Tony Woodsame” along with former ministers in his government such as Surapong Suebwonglee, Prommin Lertsuridej, Chaturon Chaisang and Pichai Naripthaphan on the app on February 22, the CARE Movement said on its Facebook page. The ex-premier attended the 2-hours long forum talking about his experience of contracting Covid-19 and then recovering from the disease as well as the origin of the “30 baht cure all” policy that his Thai Rak Thai Party came up with to tackle the country’s healthcare problems. The forum drew more than 100,000 listeners overnight. At one point, the ex-premier talked about political rallies in Thailand which he said caused by young people feeling uncertain about their future. He urged the government must communicate with these young protesters based on reason as well as find ways to make Thailand open and free. Interestingly, when asked by another guest about the Tak Bai and Kreu-Sae incidents in 2003 which led to a large number of people and insurgents being killed under his administration, the ex-premier said he hardly recalled the incidents and expressed his condolences to the victims of the incidents. This 1st appearance on Clubhouse app of Thaksin became top Twitter trend quickly followed by many questions and responses. The #Thaksin accompanied by “Tak Bai can’t remember” rose as the most popular Twitter trend this week. Some comment said Thaksin on Clubhouse but Lung (used to refer to Prime Minister Gen Prayut) is still on TikTok. Gen Prayut told the press that he did not use the Clubhouse app because he had no time for it, telling Thai people not to listen to criminals. He was quoted as saying, “Why do I have to be listening? People love listening to this criminal who destroyed the law and people are still giving him credit”. The coalition Bhumjai Thai Party said it is willing to wait for decision of the Phalang Pracharat Party (PPRP) on a punishment against 7 rebels who violated the party’s resolution on the no-confidence vote. Paradon Prisananantakul, a Bhumjai Thai MP for Ang Thong, said his party will wait for the committee’s announcement for punishment measures for the conduct of 6 rebels after its findings are to be released within 15 days. On Protest news, Ratsadon (People’s Movement) protesters yesterday rallied in front of the Royal Thai Police headquarters to protest against the corruption-plagued police promotion system. The issue was raised during last week’s censure debate by the opposition Kao Klai (Move Forward) party. A small crowd started gathering at Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok at about 17.00 hrs, with protest leaders taking to the stage to denounce the widespread practice of alleged nepotism and graft in police reshuffles and to urge hard-working police to rise up and fight for justice. Prominent Ratsadon core leaders Panasaya Sitthijirawattanakul and Panupong Jadnok or “Mike Rayong” were absent from the rally. Protesters then marched to the Royal Thai Police headquarters and distributed copies of a letter containing a statement among protesters. The letter was claimed to be written by a police officer addressed to his colleagues. The protesters dispersed peacefully at about 20.30 hrs. The organizers announced another rally today and ask supporters to wear black in another protest today in front of the Criminal Court to “mourn” the justice system for 112 minutes, to protest against Section 112 of the Criminal Code or the lee majeste law and the detention in prison of 4 core protest leaders, namely Parit Chiwarak, Anon Nampa, Somyos Prueksakasemsook and Patiwat Saraiyaem. On the charter amendment issue, Suthin Khlangsaeng, the opposition chief whip and Pheu Thai MP for Maha Sarakham, came out to admit that the opposition is worried that the charter amendment process could be derailed after the Constitutional Court accepted a petition asking it to rule if the process is unconstitutional. The court’s review is likely to affect the 2nd reading of the proposed charter amendments scheduled for February 24-25. The court’s schedule to consider the amendment drafts on March 4 will also affect the 3rd reading of the proposed charter amendments set for mid-March. The court’s verdict in opposition to charter amendments is likely to lead to conflict in society and the charter amendment crisis to deepen. In a related development, a report said 108 lawmakers had proposed a motion to ban members of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and former charter drafting committee members under Meechai Ruchuphan from serving on a new Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA). The Criminal Court is set to deliver a verdict in a case against 39 leaders of now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) including Suthep Thaugsuban today on offences, including treason, acts of terrorism. The court’s decision is a result of public prosecutors’ decision to submit the case against 39 leaders of the movement rally on January 24, 2018. Suthep and all the defendants denied all the charges when appearing before the court. They were released on bail on condition of not leaving the country without permission from the court. The court said it had now completed the examination of witnesses in the case. Among the 39 defendants are Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan, Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Buddhipongse, Deputy Transport Minister Thavorn Senniam, Democrat MPs Sathit Wongnongtoey and Rangsima Rodrassami, former Democrat MP Witthaya Kaewparadai and Phalang Pracharat Party list MP Paiboon Nititawan. Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, as the Phalang Pracharat Party (PPRP) leader, came out to confirm that the party will not field former police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda as its candidate to contest the upcoming Bangkok gubernatorial election. Gen Prawit’s move came after a large banner bearing the image of Pol Gen Chakthip was hung in front of the former headquarters of the PPRP, fuelling speculation that the ex-police commissioner will run for the contest under the PPRP’s banner. Gen Prawit said the old PPRP head office building had nothing to do with the party. The cabinet formally approved the extension of the nationwide emergency decree nationwide for another month through March 31. Economic News The World Bank urged the Thai government to boost investment to 35-36 per cent of GDP, from 17 per cent at present, and double productivity growth, as Kiatipong Ariyapruchya, World Bank senior economist for Thailand, said during a Virtual Forum: Reinventing Thailand 2021 on the topic “A More Prosperous 2021”. The World Bank economist also said it will take at least 2 years for Thailand’s economy to return to its pre-pandemic level due to its heavy reliance on tourism amid volatile political situation and the trade war. Kiatipong also warned that Thailand’s poverty rates will be elevated due to economic impacts of the outbreak, with additional 1.5 million people may have entered poverty in 2020. It will take at least 4-5 years for the country to return to sustainable growth. Given such the economic prospect, the World Bank is looking to cut its previous projection of 4 per cent in 2021 due to the new round of the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in Thailand increased to 1.69 per cent in 2020, compared to 0.98 per cent in 2019, according to the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). Average hours worked in the private sector also fell from 45.8 hours per week to 43.2 hours per week, a drop of 5.7 per cent. The number of overtime workers (who work over 50 hours per week) fell to 17.1 per cent. This is seen as an indicator that workers had insufficient income to afford necessities. Household income fell from 26,371 baht to 23,615 baht during the 1st half of 2020, or by 10.45 per cent, according to the NESDC’s household socio-economic Survey. The government’s economic think-tank expects an increase in household debt in the 4th quarter of 2020. However, there is some good news for the export sector as Kasikorn Research Centre (KResearch) foresees a good prospect for Thai export after the global economy has been showing signs of recovery. Thailand’s exports grew 0.35 per cent year-on-year to US$ 19.7 billion in January, below the market estimate of 2.7 per cent, according to KResearch. Phusit Rattanakul Sereeruengsit, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, also saw an uptick on exports in January of products related to agriculture, working from home trend and the pandemic. Rubber gloves gained 200 per cent year-on-year, up 14 months in a row, based on high demand from many countries. Gold exports plunged by 90 per cent year-on-year. Exports expanded for a second consecutive month thanks to recovery in global trade and national economies especially in Asia, including optimism on vaccination progress, Phusit said. However, he warned that the Thai exports could face pressure from the new Covid-19 outbreak coupled with new variants, a shortage of shipping containers, and the strengthening of baht.