Week 28 (9th July 2012 – 15th July 2012) ASEAN Newspapers Issues pertaining to Thailand ‐ politics Number of article(s): 14 Keywords/criteria used for search: Thailand, Thai Online newspapers included in search: Borneo Bulletin (Brunei) Brunei Times (Brunei) Phnom Penh Post (Cambodia) Jakarta Post (Indonesia) Jakarta Globe (Indonesia) Vientiane Times (Laos) Vietnam Net (Vietnam) Nhan Dan (Vietnam) The Star (Malaysia) The New Straits Times (Malaysia) The Strait Times (Singapore) The Philippine Inquirer (Philippines) The Japan Times (Japan) China Daily (China) The Korean Times (South Korea) Table of Contents THE BRUNEI TIMES 6 15 / JULY / 2012 – THAI PM TO SEEK DELIBERATION OF COURT RULING (XINHUA ALSO FEATURED IN CHINA DAILY) 6 • It was reported that the Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra forwarded the ruling of the Constitution Court to the Council of State for deliberation on next steps to take. • The ruling on Friday determined that parliament can only amend the charter, section by section. • PM Yingluck reaffirmed that the ruling Pheu Thai party will push ahead with a constitutional amendment as it was part of the ruling party's electoral campaign. • PM stated that she believed the ruling would not delay the charter amendment process and that people had heard the ruling in a peaceful manner • The ruling is seen by critics as a compromise which helped ease mounting political tension 14 / JULY / 2012 ­ THAILAND’S COURT DISMISSES PETITION AGAINST RULING PARTY (REUTERS ALSO FEATURED IN STRAIT TIMES) 6 • It is reported that Thailand’s constitutional court rejects charges that constitutional amendments sponsored by ruling party threatens the Thai monarchy. • However the court ruled that a referendum was needed for a rewrite of the charter. • Red shirts were said to be “jubilant with verdict”. The ruling allowed amendments to be made to the constitution however if the government wanted to get an elected assembly to overhaul the whole constitution, “as it wants to do”, a referendum would be needed. • Political science professor at Chulalongkorn University, Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee, quoted for stating that "This is a ruling that keeps the balance between the opposition and the ruling party,". She further adds that this would allow the whole constitution to be amended yet provide the opposition time. • The article further notes that the government maintains its proposed changes are part of efforts to bring reconciliation to Thailand, altering a constitution seen by some as undemocratic. Opponents of the amendments have argued the changes threaten the constitutional monarchy and that one undeclared aim was to pave the way for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra to return. 13 / JULY / 2012 ­ ‘CAMBODIAN TROOPS FIRE AT THAI PASSENGER JET’ (AFP) 7 • It was reported that the Thai army was quoted for saying that Cambodian troops fired shots at a passenger plane flying near disputed border, believing it to be a spy plane. • This is confirmed in the report by Cambodian military stating that troops had open fire at an aircraft at 7 pm last Wednesday. • Article further states that relations between the two country have however warmed significantly since the current Thai government took office. THE PHNOM PENH POST 8 13 / JULY / 2012 – BORDER INCIDENT ACCOUNTS CLASH 8 • Article states that Cambodia and Thailand are in disagreement over if one of two aircrafts Cambodia military fired at Wednesday night was a military plane or a Thai Airways passenger plane. • The Cambodian military was quoted for saying that two Thai military planes had crossed into Cambodian air space over Banteay Meanchey drawing warning shots from anti‐aircraft installations. • Thai military quoted for saying that Cambodian military had mistakenly shot at a Bangkok Airways passenger flight. • Incident happened a day before Thai PM was to address a high level business meeting in Siem Reap. It is further reported that Yingluck will meet separately with Hun Sen to discuss border dispute THE JAKARTA POST 9 13 / JULY / 2012 ­ THAILAND COURT TO ISSUE CRUCIAL VERDICT (AP) 9 • It is reported that it is expect that Thai Constitutional Court to issue a ruling on 13th of July in a significant case which could trigger new round of political chaos and violent street protests if court order ruling party to dissolve. • Proponent of charter amendments see the current constitution as undemocratic while opponent of charter amendments see the amendments as a threat to monarchy as well as could help Thaksin return to power. • Court is reportedly seen as closely allied with the elite/ conservative establishment. However analysts predict a move to dissolve the ruling party would be unlike as it would provoke a severe backlash. 11 / JULY / 2012 – MAN JAILED FOR TRANSLATING THAI KING BOOK FREED (AP) 11 • Article relates to a statement issued by US Embassy last Wednesday that, Joe Gordon, a Thai‐born American citizen who was jailed two and half years ago for translating the banned biography on His Majestic and posting the content online, has been freed by royal pardon. • US Embassy spokesman Walter Braunohler was quoted for stating that the US was pleased that His Majestic granted Joe Gordon a royal pardon. He further adds that the US would urge Thai authorities on a “regular basis, both privately and publically, in Bangkok and in Washington, to ensure that freedom of expression is protected in accordance with its international obligations.” • The article further notes that Lese Majeste laws in Thailand are the harshest in the world. It particularly mentions the Computer Crime Act as making prosecutors enable to increase Lese Majeste sentences. THE JAKARTA GLOBE 12 10 / JULY / 2012 – THAI RED SHIRT SENTENCED OVER ROYAL SEATING CLAIM (AFP) 12 • Jatuporn Prompan was given a suspended jail term for slander over claims he accused the former PM of sitting incorrectly during an audience with Thailand’s revered king. • Jatuporn saw his jail term suspended because he has not been convicted for any other crime. Yet he is currently facing many pending cases including terrorism charges over his involvement in the violent street protests in 2010. 10 / JULY / 2012 – DETAINED THAIS TO FACE CHARGES: MYANMAR STATE MEDIA (AFP ALSO FEATURED IN STRAIT TIMES) 13 • Nine women and 52 men were reported to have been detained during a Myanmar army sweep/raid in a southern border region. • According to the Myanmar news source, the New Light of Myanmar, weapons and ammunition were seized and no shots were reportedly fired during the raid. • It is further noted that the Thai detainees who had encroached upon Myanmar territory were rubber farming on a commercial scale. • Deputy prime ministers, Yutthasak Sasiprapa, said that Thailand would negotiate for their release but told that the task had been complicated due to that the Myanmar army had found both illicit drugs and arms. THE STRAIT TIMES 14 13 / JULY / 2012 – THAILAND, CAMBODIA INVESTIGATE JET INCIDENT 14 • Authorites on both sides of the Thai and Cambodia border are investigating on reports that Cambodian troops fired on a Bangkok Airways passenger flight, mistaking it for a spy plane. • Thai army officer was quoted under anonymity for saying that Cambodian military open fire as plane circled the border region in bad weather. There were no reports of damage. • Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovijakchaikul denied the reports 13 / JULY / 2012 – THAILAND STEPS UP SECURITY FOR KEY COURT RULING (AFP) 14 • The article states that Thailand is increasing/boosting security in advance of the charter amendment case, deploying nearly 2,000 police officers around the Constitutional Court and providing judges special police protection • Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa warned that Friday’s verdict had the potential to trigger violence yet said that was no specific threat of unrest. 11 / JULY / 2012 – THAI PARDON FOR US CITIZEN JAILED FOR ROYAL INSULT (AFP ALSO FEATURED IN NEW STRAIT TIMES, THE STAR AND JAPAN TODAY) 15 • This article focus on the recent royal pardon and release of Joe Gordon, Thai‐born US citizen who was charged under the Thai Lese Majeste laws. • The article further reports that his release came just before Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra was scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a business forum in Cambodia. THE NEW STRAIT TIMES 15 16 / JULY / 2012 – THAI BORDER ON ALERT ON CAMBODIAN CHILD DEATH 15 • Recent death of a Cambodian child of sever hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) has reportedly caused quarantine experts to take stern measures against Cambodian immigrants. • It is reported that Cambodian families are crossing into Thailand thorugh Thai border district of Aranyaprathet. Thai officials have reportedly refused two children entry into Thailand as they had a high fever. CHINA DAILY 16 13 / JULY / 2012 – THAI PM URGES ALL PARTIES TO ACCEPT COURT VERDICT PEACEFULLY (XINHUA) 16 • Thai PM Yingluck was quoted calling all parties to stay calm and accept the Court’s verdict. She further calls on the public not to resort to violence following the verdict. • The bill sponsored by the government to amendment the constitution is seen by the opposition as attempt to topple the constitutional monarchy. • Security has been increased leading up to the court ruling 10 / JULY / 2012 – RED SHIRT LEADER SENTENCED FOR DEFAMATION (XINHUA) 16 • It is reported that Thailand’s criminal court last Tuesday decided to put Jatuporn Prompan, six month in jail, suspended for two years, for defaming rival ex‐PM Abhisit Vejjajiva • Following the verdict , Jatuporn said that he would appeal The Brunei Times 15 / July / 2012 – Thai PM to seek deliberation of Court ruling (Xinhua Also featured in China Daily) THAI Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that she will forward the ruling of Constitution Court to the Council of State for deliberation on the next steps, Thai News Agency reported. The prime minister made her remarks after the Constitution Court on Friday ruled that the parliament can only amend the charter, section by section.