Thanathorn party ready for lift-off

[webfact]

Thanathorn party ready for lift-off

By WASAMON AUDJARINT, 
JITTRAPORN SENWONG 
THE NATION 

 

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (courtesy of Thanathorn's Facebook account)

 

HIGH HOPES AS ‘NEW CITIZEN’ ALTERNATIVE LAUNCHED DESPITE THREATS BY NCPO

 

AMID SKYROCKETING popularity, tycoon Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit is pushing forward with his plan to launch a brand-new, “young blood” political party, despite threats from the ruling junta.

 

The 39-year-old billionaire will introduce the party in the company of 25 founding members today at a press conference, which he has referred to as “drinking coffee with Thanathorn and friends”, before going to the office of the Election Commission to submit a request for the party registration.

 

The party’s name, which will be officially announced today, is reportedly New Citizen Party.

 

Thanathorn also submitted a letter yesterday to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, notifying them of his resignation from the board of Matichon Group.

 

The prospective party, which was first mentioned by Thanathorn earlier this month, stands out not only because it is introducing a new generation to politics, but also for its tendencies identified as progressive, judging from the records of its founding members.

 

Besides law professor Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, who is known for his expertise on constitutional issues and the lese mejeste law, members include activists and campaigners for the rights of social minorities, academics and freelance writers. Most members are in their 20s and 30s.

 

The group has drawn attention not only from the public but also the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which earlier warned Thanathorn not to “cross the line”.

 

Winthai Suvaree

 

Yesterday, NCPO spokesperson Colonel Winthai Suvaree said Thanathorn’s press conference might risk breaking the NCPO’s ban against political gatherings of five or more people.

 

“If the event happens as Thanathorn announced it would, it could be deemed wrongdoing. Responsible officers will have to evaluate and consider taking action,” Winthai said.

 

Another NCPO source said junta leader Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha had not focused on the party’s debut. 

 

“[Prayut] does not take it seriously, only saying that they should do it appropriately and it should not be ‘too much’,” the source said.

 

Thanathorn responded that the event would not break the junta’s ban because it was not meant as political campaigning or an announcement of party policies.

 

In a Facebook post, he said the event would be held simply to explain the party’s registration request, discuss on the country’s future and answer questions asked of his group.

 

“I urge the government and the NCPO to create an environment that supports people exercising their rights and freedom creatively, as well as to hold the election by their schedule,” he said.

 

“For a dignified election, I call on them to allow me and other parties to exercise our rights and freedoms to perform political activities on a normal basis, which should bring about creative discussions of our future and policy plans, enabling a quality election and politically educated people,” he said. 

 

“These factors all contribute to a strong democracy.”

 

Regardless of the junta’s threats, Thanathorn yesterday did not make any changes to his plans, aside from omitting the phrase “attitude adjustment”, which was seen as mocking the ruling junta’s detention of critics, from the name of the event in a Facebook post.

 

Imposed shortly after the 2014 coup, a junta ban has frozen political parties from taking collective action, even after the political party bill was enacted last October.

 

To “facilitate” parties’ actions, the NCPO issued an order in December giving more leeway for new parties to get ready for the election, which has been promised for February of next year after multiple delays.

 

The order also required that prospective parties request registration starting on March 1, with more than 40 parties having already done so.

 

With many parties having a clear platform to support Prayut, or at least his agenda, many hope Thanathorn’s party will be a new alternative, including to the major, powerhouse parties that have been involved Thailand’s prolonged political crisis.

 

Thararat Panya (courtesy of Thararat's Facebook account)

 

Thararat Panya, a 22-year-old feminist campaigner and party cofounder, told The Nation that she wanted to form a party that opened opportunities for the younger generation to create a culture of civic participation.

 

“We have lost faith in Thai politics after our voices were ignored,” Thararat said. “This significantly has led to false solutions to problems as our opinions were not heard and only the powers-that-be had a say.”

 

Once a sexual harassment victim at her university and eventually a successful campaigner advocating punishment of wrongdoers, Thararat said gender-based agendas should also be developed in the political arena.

 

“Those agendas have been given less attention, although they are actually political,” she said. “I wish to raise more social awareness about feminism, gender equality and sexual harassment, emphasising how they need to be given attention.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30340940

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-15

[webfact]

Thanathorn defends meeting over coffee is not political assembly

By Thai PBS

 

 

Political “young blood” Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has invited police and military officers to join him for political discussion over coffee after he was warned by the junta that his planned meet over coffee on Thursday (March 15) to discuss the formation of a new political party could be interpreted as an illegal political assembly.

 

Mr Thanathorn, deputy CEO of the Thai Summit Group, posted in his Facebook page on Wednesday clarifying his planned meeting over coffee with political enthusiasts regarding his new party which is to be registered.

 

Mr Thanathorn said after the coffee talk, he and members of the so-call “Friend of Thanathorn” group would proceed to the Election Commission to register the new party.

 

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thanathorn-defends-meeting-coffee-not-political-assembly/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-03-15

[cornishcarlos]

Now this has really got P-Dog worried.... Not only have this party got some interesting members but also it looks like they have financial backing !!

Lets see how the Junta cope with this problem.. It's popcorn time 

[scorecard]

43 minutes ago, cornishcarlos said:

Now this has really got P-Dog worried.... Not only have this party got some interesting members but also it looks like they have financial backing !!

Lets see how the Junta cope with this problem.. It's popcorn time 

 

 

Why do you say they have financial backing? Please share.

 

I searched whether Khun Thanathorn can speak English, but I couldn't find any information? Has anybody got an answer to this question? Please share. 

 

 

[cornishcarlos]

5 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Why do you say they have financial backing? Please share.

 

Mmmmmm, because he's a billionaire and his family is minted !!!

[idman]

Just another mega rich Thai Hi-So looking to make a name for himself and at the same time bring attention to his families businesses so they can reap in hundreds of millions of more Baht.  This pretty boy will be thought a lesson by those alot politically wiser than him and his supporters.

[scorecard]

4 minutes ago, idman said:

Just another mega rich Thai Hi-So looking to make a name for himself and at the same time bring attention to his families businesses so they can reap in hundreds of millions of more Baht.  This pretty boy will be thought a lesson by those alot politically wiser than him and his supporters.

 

Do you have any specific reason to make your statement or ?

 

I've googled him several times, maybe I missed it but I can't see any evidence to suggest he has baggage or ill intent.

 

Why not let him try and give him the benefit of the doubt, see who joins him, are they credible, honest, capable, do they have a negative track record, etc.

 

 

[thaiguzzi]

1 hour ago, idman said:

Just another mega rich Thai Hi-So looking to make a name for himself and at the same time bring attention to his families businesses so they can reap in hundreds of millions of more Baht.  This pretty boy will be thought a lesson by those alot politically wiser than him and his supporters.

Bad hair day?

Every glass only half empty?

[BobbyL]

Good luck to him. He'll be able to target a lot of the population.

 

I bet the boys in office now are beginning to get slightly concerned. 

[baboon]

6 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

Now this has really got P-Dog worried.... Not only have this party got some interesting members but also it looks like they have financial backing !!

Lets see how the Junta cope with this problem.. It's popcorn time 

They will cope using their usual method of fabricating charges and threatening his supporters. They are a one trick pony.

 

"Yesterday, NCPO spokesperson Colonel Winthai Suvaree said Thanathorn’s press conference might risk breaking the NCPO’s ban against political gatherings of five or more people."

 

This means "You aren't in fact breaking the law but have no doubt we are coming after you regardless."

Edited March 15, 2018 by baboon

[Ossy]

Whilst Thanathorn and his co-founders/associates may be ready to take on the challenge for control, from under the Junta's noses - an obscenely long one, in one case - and aside from the likelihood that Prayocchio's already wetting himself, the BIG question for me is whether the Thai electorate are ready for Thanathorn.

 

Can they get their heads around the idea that the New Citizen Party (or whatever other name), under the leadership of a very wealthy businessman, could actually be committed to making Thailand better, better for everyone . . . and no strings attached?

 

I know, if I were Thai, I, like Pinocchio, would be wetting myself with excitement at what this lively and genuine-looking youngster might have to offer for the country's political renaissance that is so badly needed.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, BobbyL said:

Good luck to him. He'll be able to target a lot of the population.

 

I bet the boys in office now are beginning to get slightly concerned. 

 

Maybe, maybe not.

 

We can all theorize why the election has had so many delays.

 

IMHO one possibility is that the NCPO has been hoping for a new party to emerge, not tangled with the old history.

 

Hoping the new party will be the factor that changes the whole picture by making the dinosaurs and money politicians irrelevant.

 

Just maybe...

Edited March 15, 2018 by scorecard

[Ossy]

7 hours ago, scorecard said:

I searched whether Khun Thanathorn can speak English, but I couldn't find any information? Has anybody got an answer to this question?

I have other things to do besides checking on Mr T's English skills. As useful a language as it is, is it a condition of standing for election in Thailand? Could Theresa May speak German when she got the nod? I very much doubt it . . . but I'm sure as hell she couldn't speak Thai.

Edited March 15, 2018 by Ossy
clarity

[scorecard]

38 minutes ago, Ossy said:

I have other things to do besides checking on Mr T's English skills. As useful a language as it is, is it a condition of standing for election in Thailand? Could Theresa May speak German when she got the nod? I very much doubt it . . . but I'm sure as hell she couldn't speak Thai.

 

OIC.

 

[Ossy]

4 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

OIC.

 

How the hell do you pronounce that? Or is it one of those 'secret society' acronyms? Let's see:- Organisation of the Islamic Conference; officer-in-charge; oh, I see; only in California . . . no, it couldn't be any of those, surely. These things drive me up the bloody wall . . . ATAF!

[Cadbury]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Thanathorn party ready for lift-off

Every chance he will get "lift-off" if the PM sees him as a threat to his own political ambitions.

He will surely be "lifted-off" to the re-education camp for an extended period of training in subservience to the ruling military junta.