September 11, 2020 Thai Enquirer Summary Political News Thammasat University’s management yesterday (September 10) issued a statement that says it will not allow the “United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration” Group to use its Tha Prachan campus for a rally against the government on September 19. The announcement came a day after the group announced the details of the planned anti-government rally. The university said the protest leaders’ request to use the campus for their rally is not considered an activity to “promote learning about rights, liberty, and responsibility under the boundary of the Constitution”. After the university issued the statement, student leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak said plans for the rally remained unchanged. He is quoted as saying on Facebook page, “The rally will proceed as planned at Thammasat University because Thammasat belongs to the people, not the property of a few dictators”. The decision by Thammasat University has prompted reaction from many alumni who are in very senior positions saying both that it was a good and bad move. Among those who came out to warn that the move by Thammasat University is wrong is Paisal Puechmongkol, who is an alumni of the university and also former adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. He came out to say that the banning of the students will only add fuel to the fire and more will likely join the movement now. Manit Somsaikit a very senior journalist at Thai Rath and also a former alumni said that the university had done a good job in banning the students from holding their rally there. Trairong Suwankiri, a former Minister under Democrat party and also an alumni, came out to give his advice citing the incidents of October 1976 protest and how the pitfalls of the bloody 1976 could be avoided. Manit Suksomjit, a member of Thammasat University's council, said a group of alumni led by law academic Kaewsan Athibodhi would meet today at the Tha Phra Chan campus to discuss why the September 19 rally, whether it should or should not be allowed, and propose their suggestions to the university administration. Meanwhile National Police Chief Chakthip Chaijinda said that prime minister has asked security forces to avoid the use of any force on protesters. In a related development, the opposition Pheu Thai Party came out to claim that protest leader with the initial “Por” ask for funding. The Nation Weekend edition’s website said it received a report from Pheu Thai that the protest leader with the initial “Por” had contacted some key members and MPs to ask for funding to finance the planned major rally on September 19 against the government. However, the protest leader in question tried to contact MPs and key members through all channels like private phone numbers, Facebook’s inbox and Twitter. However, his request for funding was rejected as the party did not want to provide a financial source to a protest group that was accused of offending the country’s highest institution, says a source who is Pheu Thai key member. Prior to a “Thammasat will not Tolerate” rally which accompanied by its 10-point manifesto, at Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus on August 10, 2020, several protest leaders including the protest leader with the initial “Por” had posted a message looking for sponsors for anti-government rallies. However, the attempts failed due to some technical problems regarding their bank account numbers. It is also reported that several protest leaders who were arrested on sedition charges among other charges asked for donations from the public with their personal bank account numbers to help fight legal cases. In regards to student protesters who attended a demonstration organised by the “Bad Students” at the Education Ministry, Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan came out to say that he suspected that students cannot fund such a protest activity. Natapol said he spoke from his experience as a former co-leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC). Nataphol made this comment during the general debate in the House yesterday (Septemebr 10). He said he believed that the student rally was organised by “professionals”, citing that he spotted a port-a-loo servicing truck arriving at the protest scene. Nataphol’s comment triggered heated debates on social media. Progressive Movement leader Piyabutr Saengkanokkul came out to deny allegations that he is a key figure behind the major rally planned on September 19 by the “United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration”. The Progressive Movement leader, however, confirmed that he would join the planned rally but will not go on the stage to give any speeches. Piyabutr went on to say that the protestors are supporters of now-defunct Future Forward Party and other democracy fighting parties. Piyabutr said the military’s persistent intervention in politics since September 19, 2006 and the pro-military charter are the crux of the problem that led to student demonstrations today. The Royal Thai Police is now back peddling on the planned prosecution of the 17-year old high-school student for holding a 1-hour protest in Ratchaburi province on September 1, 2020. The prosecution of 5 underaged students for protesting is catching fire and is gaining social booing The police is back peddling but it seems like the gunshot has already been fired and rescinding could be very difficult The prosecution, could further help add fuel to the fire, and push the students out on the streents. On the charter amendment issue, 170 MPs from the opposition bloc submitted 4 motions seeking amendments: To Section 272 to exclude senators from process of electing the Prime Minister and Section 159 of the constitution to enable MPs to elect the Prime Minister from the list of nominees proposed by parties and from among MPs. To Sections 270 and 271 of the constitution to revoke the powers of the Senate regarding national reforms. To Section 279, which legitimizes all the orders issued and actions taken by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). To other sections regarding the election system of MPs. Among opposition party leaders who support Pheu Thai’s motions is Kao Klai Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat who led 170 MPs along with Pheu Thai Party leader Sompong Amornvivat to submit the motions to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai. In a related development on the charter amendment issue, a special House committee to study charter amendments revealed its study results which support the opposition bloc’s amendment motions. The House committee on charter amendments chaired by Pirapan Salirathavibhaga submitted its study results to the House which made a number of suggestions that support the opposition’s motions: An amendment to Section 256 to clear the way for a charter drafting body to be formed as the first step. Revisions to national reform or national strategic plans every 1-2 years to keep abreast of changing social and economic trends. Changing the election system back to a 2-ballot system which allowed constituency MPs also to stand on the party list under the 400 to 100 formula. The panel also supports the opposition’s proposal to re-adopt the 1997 constitution, Pirapan said. In addition, the panel supports the opposition’s motion to curb the powers of the Senate. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, the government’s expert on legal affairs, has come out to provide a tentative time frame for the charter rewriting process, saying that the process of amending the constitution and making laws organic in the new charter is expected to be complete by July 2022. Wissanu explained that the version of the charter amendment bill from the main opposition Pheu Thai Party seeks to establish a charter drafting assembly (CDA) and have a new constitution rewritten by it within 4 months while the version of the charter amendment bill from government coalition parties will required 240 days for drawing up a new charter. The charter amendment process may take a long time because even if both bills are endorsed by both houses of parliament they will have to wait until a separate bill on a referendum on the charter rewrite is enacted before they are put to the vote, Wissanu explained. Following Wan Muhammad Nor Matha’s resignation as a list MP of the Prachachat Party, taking effect from today (September 11), Pol Col Thawee Sodsong, the party’s secretary-general, is the next on the list to move up to replace Wan, Sukarno Matha, Prachachat MP for Yala, announced at a press briefing. Economic News The Bank of Thailand (BoT) insisted to keep loan-to-value (LTV) ratio regulations for mortgage loans unchanged amid mounting complaints from the real estate industry. Nawaron Dejsuvan, the BoT’s assistant governor of the financial institutions policy group, insisted that the BoT’s current LTV regulations is needed and suitable for current market conditions. She said the Central Bank had already relaxed some LTV conditions twice. After assessing the market situation closely, the Central Bank’ findings showed that the LTV rules were not obstacle to those homebuyers with real demand from gaining access to housing loans, Nawaron said, insisting that the current LTV guidance can curb future risks from accumulating in the property sector. Pornnarit Chuanchaisit, president of the Thai Real Estate Association, warned that more than 2,000 workers in property firms would likely be laid off in the fourth quarter of this year if the Central Bank keeps the current LTV regulations unchanged, citing that the LTV ratio regulation has dampened sales of property firms, causing them to downsize their organisations. Srettha Thavisin, president of Sansiri Plc, wrote in his tweet@Thavisin that those who said the real estate market can still keep going are definitely not telling the truth.