November 30, 2020 Thai Enquirer Summary Political News Although the protest that took place yesterday is the big news, in our view the bigger news is the fact that there is an ongoing outbreak of the Covid-19 in the norther city of Chiang Mai. The case arose as 2 ladies in Chiang Mai had a ball of a time in the city, while being infected with the virus after having come from Myanmar. A 29-year old Thai came into Thailand via the border Tachileik in Myanmar, they were staying at 1G1 hotel in Tachileik (Myanmar). The lady who came into Chiang Rai and then sat in a van to go to Chiang Mai then o Used Grab car to go around the city o Went to a bar host to pick up some guy and slept with him o She also went to Central Festival and went to a movie there The provincial public health office in Chiang Mai yesterday called for calm among Chiang Mai locals as officials were yet to detect any further infections among people who had been in close contact with an infected Thai woman feared to be a super spreader. There is a growing fear that the 29-year old lady in question could be the so called super spreader and rumours have been flying around that she had come to Bangkok as well although this rumour was shot down by the authorities. Authorities have said that they are testing more than 300 people but nobody has been found to be infected. Out of the 306 people who were in close contact were 85 people 80 have been self quarantine at their houses and only 5 have in state- quarantine People who got them from the other side (no numbers) are yet to be traced 11 people who were in the van have not been able to be located 35 of them who were in the bus who took from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai On the political protest, well, thousands of anti-government protesters led by the Khana Ratsadon (People’s Party) group yesterday marched to the 11th Infantry Regiment This regiment falls under HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s personal control after the army unit was transferred to be under his direct control by the government of embattled Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in 2019. The anti-establishment rally started from 15:00 hrs as protesters marched from Wat Phra Sri Mahathat BTS station to the 11th Infantry Regiment. A sea of black- clad protesters wore hair clips with yellow rubber ducks while many of them on the frontlines donned gas masks and helmets and carried inflatable rubber ducks as their weapons in preparation for any potential skirmishes with authorities. Protesters decided to relocate this afternoon’s rally, from the 1st Infantry Battalion of the Royal Guards to the 11th Infantry Regiment of the Royal Guards in Bangkhen district. The 1st infantry is also under the control of HM the King. Protest leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak said the reason that he called a rally outside the King’s Guard because the 11th Infantry Regiment along with the 1st Infantry Regiment played a role in the suppression of anti-establishment protests in 2010 and now it is time that the people should take these army barracks back to the people. He read a statement that says there is no need for the monarchy to have its own army and that the troops, particularly the 11th Infantry Regiment, and its budget should be transferred back under the jurisdiction of the regular army. Parit then declared “victory” at 18:40 hrs as he said the 11th Infantry Regiment now belongs to the public and be renamed to “the 11th Infantry Regiment the People’s Guard”. The next protest has been called at 14:00 hrs on December 2nd at the Constitutional Court on Chaengwattana Road. December 2 is the date set by the Constitutional Court to rule on embattled Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s overstayed in an army-owned residence. At around 21:45 hrs, Red shirt core leaders got up on stage and talked about the 2010 military crackdown on the red shirts resulted in 99 deaths, followed by a commemoration ceremony for the victims. Red shirt core leaders then pour red paint in a symbolic gesture in front of the 11th Infantry Regiment to commemorate the 2010 military crackdown. Meanwhile Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit reportedly attended anti-government rally near Bang Na Intersection on Saturday. He supported protesters’ call for Gen Prayut to resign. Another anti-establishment rally was also held outside the provincial hall in Nonthaburi for a 2nd straight evening of protests following a similar rally in the Lat Phrao intersection on Friday. Warong Dechgitvigrom, who leads the Thai Pakdee group, posted a message on his Facebook accusing Thanathorn of being the mastermind behind the anti- establishment mob. He said Thanathorn encouraged anti-establishment protesters to take to the streets and use divisive, hateful speech and feed wrong information to protesters to incite them to take to the streets. Meanwhile, a royalist group called the Archeewa protects the monarchy (Vocational Students Protect the Monarchy) along with its allies rallied around the Great around King Taksin statue at Wong Wian Yai to raise public awareness about the Thai royal institution. The group distanced itself from political issues but stressed its stance against monarchy reform. Former yellow-shirt security guards, known as the “Srivichai Warriors” group announced decision to ally with the Vocational Students Protect the Monarchy. The group said its key agenda is to appear before His Majesty King Rama 10 in various places to show their loyalty to him. As the ruling on Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s continued stay in an army housing unit is approaching, Phumtham Wechayachai, an adviser to the leader of Pheu Thai Party, told the public to keep a close watch on the December 2 ruling which he said to be the day that the Thai justice system has a chance to prove itself. Phumtham believes that Gen Prayut is highly likely to be removed from office by the court for his continued stay in army accommodation with access to free water and free electricity, citing opinions of legal experts and academics who perceived Gen Prayut’s case in the same direction of past cases of former prime ministers who abused their authority. Phumtham said it would be quite difficult for Gen Prayut to find reasons to justify his cause for his overstay. Pheu Thai will appoint representatives to attend the court’s ruling on December 2 as the case is a result of its petition, Chusak Sirinil, Pheu Thai deputy leader, said. Meanwhile, a report comes out that former army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong has submitted a letter to the Constitutional Court to explain army regulations that may spare Gen Prayut from the case. In the letter, Gen Apirat defended Gen Prayut as he said the Prime Minister occupies an army guesthouse, not an army welfare residence, when he moved in 2021. Moreover, Gen Prayut fits all criteria in military regulations because he works to benefit the country, so he is allowed to stay on. As for the question of whether the state still bears the cost of Gen Prayut’s public utility bills, army chief Gen Narongphan Jitkaewtae reportedly submitted a letter to the court in early October to explain that the army can exercise its judgement to provide an appropriate amount of fund to support one’s stay in military accommodation according to Section 11 of army housing regulations B.E 2548 Gen Narongphan’s statement is said to be the key to the Constitutional Court’s ruling with a strong tendency that Gen Prayut will be spared by the Constitutional Court. It is said that the court said it had sufficient evidence to consider the case after Gen Narongphan submitted his statement to the court. Twitter has come out to close some Twitter account for being ‘Information Operation’ (IO) to the pro-royal side A news report from Reuters that indicated the IO operation prompted Twitter to close the account that was acting as IO to promote pro-royal trend on Twitter as pro-democracy tweets has been the ones trending the most over the past few months. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-thailand-protests-royalists- exclusive/exclusive-twitter-suspends-thai-royalist-account-linked-to- influence-campaign-idUKKBN289108 The military has also come under heavy scrutiny for its ‘Information Operation’ (IO) that has been spreading in social media. The news spread on social media after pictures of conscripts were seen sitting in a classroom and being explained what IO is all about and the conscripts were seen as being on Twitter. The military came out with a lame excuse that the conscripts were ‘given’ time to talk to their loved ones although the pictures showed that there was an explanation of what IO is all about and the conscripts were using Twitter (who uses Twitter to talk to their loved one?) The parliament is scheduled a sitting on December 1st to consider a bill to pave the way for national referendums on the rewrite of the charter. Meanwhile, the parliament committee scrutinising charter amendment bills before the 2nd and 3rd readings, is expected to invite the Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) representatives and former charter drafters to give their views on Section 256 to make way for the setting up of a charter drafting assembly to draw up a new charter, according to senator Khamnoon Sitthisaman.