Visiting Thaksin Could See Pheu Thai Disbanded

By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter

 

Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra pose for a photo with former minister Chalerm Yubamrung and his son Wan Ubumrung in Singapore on Saturday. Image: Wan Ubumrung

 

BANGKOK — Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s political clan has been disbanded and reincarnated multiple times, from Thai Rak Thai to People’s Power to Pheu Thai. Now, it could be dissolved yet again.

 

An Election Commission secretary general warned Monday that members of Pheu Thai who reportedly flew to visit the fugitive former leader in Singapore could bring about the disbandment of their party, citing a constitutional clause.

 

Full Story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2018/05/07/visiting-thaksin-could-see-pheu-thai-disbanded/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-5-7

'Meeting him is not illegal. It's just that we'll disband your party if you do.' There's a distinction without a difference for you...

 

Where's el, or is he pouring the wine?

 

Pouring the wine for chalerm would actually be a 2 man job.

Edited May 7, 20188 yr by scorecard

No matter how many rules they change or constitutions they rewrite or propaganda they spew they simply cannot beat this man.

Being that Thaksin is no angel, it certainly says an awful lot about what the majority of Thais think of Prayuth an co.

14 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

Where's el, or is he pouring the wine?

Pouring the wine for chalerm would actually be a 2 man job.

I see no wine on the table, just water. Chalerm made a call and Jesus is on his way.

24 minutes ago, pornprong said:

No matter how many rules they change or constitutions they rewrite or propaganda they spew they simply cannot beat this man.

Being that Thaksin is no angel, it certainly says an awful lot about what the majority of Thais think of Prayuth an co.

Great points, Pornprong. Yes, the contrast between what many, many Thais feel (gratitude) for Thaksin and the contempt they feel for Prayut is very striking - and it grows by the month. 

 

Prayut will never, never, NEVER even reach as far as the waistline of Thaksin in the popularity stakes amongst the ordinary and poorer Thais. It is a non-contest - and THAT is why Prayut fears a real contest (a genuine election) so much - and why he will find any means, foul or filthy ('fair' doesn't enter into it with Prayut), to block that man and his party - whatever some Westerners might think of them ...

 

Edited May 7, 20188 yr by Eligius

Looks a nice spread. Didn't see any one taking shorthand? So what was said. 

 

As Elvis THE KING, said; "Suspicious Minds".

 

It has to be proven that there is interference. Well all they have is a nice meal, water, and a gathering of 4 people. 

 

So how do you prove article 26? I believe is the constitutional clause.

 

Hope they got home OK.

Didn't I just read a story on here the other day saying the complete opposite?

I would be all in favour of 'Disbanding' Chalerm and his Son !

I should imagine that it is a "given" that Pheu Thai will be banned before the election.

 

However, probably not until much close to the poll date. Not once campaigning has commenced, that could be seen as interfering with the election (perish the thought), but close enough to the election to prevent, or at least hamper, any reincarnation. Perhaps we should look upon the banning of Pheu Thai, when it occurs, as a sign that the election is soon to be called!

42 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Great points, Pornprong. Yes, the contrast between what many, many Thais feel (gratitude) for Thaksin and the contempt they feel for Prayut is very striking - and it grows by the month. 

 

Prayut will never, never, NEVER even reach as far as the waistline of Thaksin in the popularity stakes amongst the ordinary and poorer Thais. It is a non-contest - and THAT is why Prayut fears a real contest (a genuine election) so much - and why he will find any means, foul or filthy ('fair' doesn't enter into it with Prayut), to block that man and his party - whatever some Westerners might think of them ...

 

 

"Great points, Pornprong. Yes, the contrast between what many, many Thais feel (gratitude) for Thaksin and the contempt they feel for Prayut is very striking - and it grows by the month. "

 

Well hallelujah for the great messiah who made all Thais rich in six months and fixed the bangkok traffic problems in the same time period.

 

Gratitude for what? Yes the health plan (not actually his idea), and .....

 

Meanwhile the minions got caught planning fake rice deals, and end up with decades in jail, but of course let's have gratitude for their great contributions to fraud. And the paymaster and his top cronies went untouched.

 

Well lots of gratitude for that.

 

Contempt for the general. Well yes he has lost the plot somewhat but do you have any back up for your word contempt?

 

 

 

58 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Great points, Pornprong. Yes, the contrast between what many, many Thais feel (gratitude) for Thaksin and the contempt they feel for Prayut is very striking - and it grows by the month. 

 

Prayut will never, never, NEVER even reach as far as the waistline of Thaksin in the popularity stakes amongst the ordinary and poorer Thais. It is a non-contest - and THAT is why Prayut fears a real contest (a genuine election) so much - and why he will find any means, foul or filthy ('fair' doesn't enter into it with Prayut), to block that man and his party - whatever some Westerners might think of them ...

 

 

Yawn and fiddle...

Is that "Mr Toilet" son or Mr "Do You Know who I Am?" son with the Shins?

Seems logical that they can disband the PTP... I mean Thaksin is a convicted criminal who is not allowed to run in the election or to influence the politics of the PTP. If people can still influence the politics after they are banned and convicted its not much of a punishment. Ruling by proxy would negate the whole banning procedures.

 

Doubt there are any normal democracies where they let convicted criminals on the run run their party from a distance. 

 

PTP just has to make a choice, the people and the elections.. or Thaksin. 

3 hours ago, Chris Lawrence said:

Looks a nice spread. Didn't see any one taking shorthand? So what was said. 

 

As Elvis THE KING, said; "Suspicious Minds".

 

It has to be proven that there is interference. Well all they have is a nice meal, water, and a gathering of 4 people. 

 

So how do you prove article 26? I believe is the constitutional clause.

 

Hope they got home OK.

 

Can anybody really believe they talked about shopping and the trees on Orchard Road, the Night Safari, etc., etc., and not one word about Thai politics?

 

Really?

 

2 hours ago, robblok said:

Seems logical that they can disband the PTP... I mean Thaksin is a convicted criminal who is not allowed to run in the election or to influence the politics of the PTP. If people can still influence the politics after they are banned and convicted its not much of a punishment. Ruling by proxy would negate the whole banning procedures.

 

Doubt there are any normal democracies where they let convicted criminals on the run run their party from a distance. 

 

PTP just has to make a choice, the people and the elections.. or Thaksin. 

 

Agree, but perhaps the choice is: 

 

- Collect the salary and always keep your mouth shut, and don't think just vote as instructed, or look for another immoral activity. 

 

And yes I know the new laws prohibit extra 'extra salaries' etc., but does anybody believe they couldn't easily find a way to quietly distribute the 'extra salaries' if they were determined to do so?

 

“Meeting him is not illegal,” Charungwit Phumma said in an interview. “But it could violate the law that bans outsiders from interfering with or dominating a political party. You must look at Section 28.”

 

I can think of another outsider doing a lot more interfering 

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

Yawn and fiddle...

You know your argument is hitting home when the "yawn" is the response.

It seems to happen quite a lot recently, although there was a deafening silence for a while after that rather clumsy and transparent attempt to pin the Tak Bei incident on Thaksin...

Edited May 7, 20188 yr by JAG

Yeah, and if they do then they are fostering an even greater resentment towards them within Thailand.

Pheu Thai politicians risk political death penalty

By POLITICAL DESK 
THE NATION

 

File photo

 

THAKSIN SHINAWATRA, who is widely regarded as the Pheu Thai Party’s patriarch, and its politicians seem to be risking their political lives by playing with a law that prohibits outside influence on political parties.
 

A group of mostly former Pheu Thai MPs recently met ex-PM Thaksin and his younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra, also a fugitive former prime minister, in Singapore.

 

The politicians said they called on Thaksin due to their “affection” towards him, adding that their visit did not mean he retained his influence over them.

 

“Everyone went because of their love and affection. They just wanted to meet [Thaksin and Yingluck]. It didn’t mean they would allow themselves to be influenced,” said former Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema.

 

However, Election Commission (EC) caretaker secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma warned their meeting invited a charge that it violated the Political Parties Act. The law prohibits political parties from allowing outsiders to influence its internal affairs and bars individuals from controlling or dominating the internal affairs of a party.

 

Any individual found guilty risks imprisonment of between five to 10 years, a fine of Bt100,000 to Bt200,000, and a lifetime ban from contesting an election.

 

According to the law, the EC may seek a Constitutional Court order for dissolution of the violating party. Moreover, the law prohibits the dissolved party’s executive members from standing as MPs, running any party or setting up a new party for the rest of their lives.

 

The penalties are equivalent to a death sentence for the political life of any politician found guilty.

 

Jarungvith said that a normal meeting was not against the law but that the recent Singapore meeting might draw complaints of a possible violation of the Political Parties Act.

 

“I don’t want to see any political party violate the Political Parties Act. I would like to ask people involved to carefully study the law to prevent any problem that could follow.”

 

He noted that any influence or domination by a non-executive of the party involved could be deemed a violation of the law. Thaksin holds no executive post in Pheu Thai but has retained much influence among its politicians, many of whom refer to him as “Big Boss”.

 

Both Thaksin and Yingluck are living overseas, having escaped prison sentences at home. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders in 2008 sentenced Thaksin in absentia to two years in jail for abuse of power. In September last year, the same court sentenced his sister in absentia to five years’ imprisonment for negligence.

 

The provisions against outsider influence are unprecedented for any Thai law on political parties. Critics say the drafters certainly had Thaksin in mind while conceiving the legislation.

 

At the 2011 general election, Pheu Thai’s dominant slogan was “Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai does it”. The party’s election victory catapulted Yingluck to the premiership and her government realised the slogan by putting into practice many policies suggested by her brother.

 

Even the controversial bill that would give a blanket amnesty to everyone involved in political disputes was believed to have had Thaksin in the background. The proposed law drew massive street protests and eventually led to a military coup in May 2014 that overthrew the Pheu Thai-led administration.

 

With the tough provisions in the Political Parties Act, Pheu Thai can no longer use Thaksin’s popularity in a bid to woo support from rural voters.

 

Its key figures have attempted to distance the party from Thaksin, while the man himself appears to be careful when talking about his ties with Pheu Thai. During his recent visit to Japan, he predicted “another landslide victory” for Pheu Thai but was quick to add that: “I am not involved with the party. They really don’t want me to get involved.”

 

In fact, party dissolution is not new to Thaksin. Two political parties linked to him – Thai Rak Thai and People Power – were dissolved by court order for violating the law. However, punishments for violators are harsher under the new law. In addition to dissolution of their party, politicians involved also risk lifetime political bans and imprisonment of up to 10 years.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30344824

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-08

They can try to ban the PTP from the election; they might even succeed in banning the PTP from the election.

 

However, any thought of legitimacy and/or political peace would go flying out the window. The simple fact is that PTP is the most popular party in Thailand and if a free and fair election were held today, Thaksin would win and become Prime Minister.

 

I know it. You know it. Prayut knows it. The NCPO members know it. The "five rivers" know it. The political class knows it. The heads of all institutions know it. All the political parties know it. The Thai people know it. Hell, my dog knows it.

 

The effect of banning the PTP would simply put lie to the idea that Thai people had any rights at all.

 

The genie is out of the proverbial bottle. If you take away all the political rights of the Thai people, either you will have to govern with such oppression and arrogance that the country will decline rapidly (see Burma), the Thai people will rise up and Thailand would be back to the bloody street battles with all the effects that would have on the economy, or there is a middle ground where things almost but not quite get out of hand; positions would harden, hatred would re-kindle, fester and grow further, and Thailand would stagnate and atrophy.

 

IMHO, the only not terrible future for Thailand is to have as free and fair an election as possible; the alternative(s) simply lead to either a rapid or slow decline. 

 

The Thai people deserve better than this.

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

THAKSIN SHINAWATRA, who is widely regarded as the Pheu Thai Party’s patriarch, and its politicians seem to be risking their political lives by playing with a law that prohibits outside influence on political parties.

Thaksin who ?    

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

An Election Commission secretary general warned Monday that members of Pheu Thai who reportedly flew to visit the fugitive former leader in Singapore could bring about the disbandment of their party

How that should actually read

 

An Election Commission secretary general warned Monday that members of Pheu Thai who reportedly flew to visit the fugitive former leader in Singapore could be facing permanent disbandment from politics in Thailand

 

No point in disbanding a party as they will just form a new one so what would be the point

2 hours ago, webfact said:

playing with a law that prohibits outside influence on political parties.

this law was target specifically at thaksin, let the persecution continue

2 hours ago, webfact said:

In addition to dissolution of their party, politicians involved also risk lifetime political bans and imprisonment of up to 10 years.

doesn't mean one little thing to thaksin, likely he would laugh as the only way he would ever voluntarily return is under blanket amnesty and reinstatement

Edited May 7, 20188 yr by YetAnother

1 hour ago, smedly said:

How that should actually read

 

An Election Commission secretary general warned Monday that members of Pheu Thai who reportedly flew to visit the fugitive former leader in Singapore could be facing permanent disbandment from politics in Thailand

 

No point in disbanding a party as they will just form a new one so what would be the point

All about timing - do it before the election is called, but after the inevitable deadline for forming a new party. That removes Pheu Thai from the political scene for that election...

The Shinawatra duo just keep on swanning around the globe "foot loose & fancy free" , with no action taken by Gov't to have them extradited, despite frequent claims all legal actions are being taken or that they cannot be located........ Pathetic!!

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf.. the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf?

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

doesn't mean one little thing to thaksin, likely he would laugh as the only way he would ever voluntarily return is under blanket amnesty and reinstatement

Thoose 10 years was not regarding Thaksin. It was regarding the people in the party today that travels to meet him in other countries.

The poo yais seem to be wetting themselves today as Mr T is ratcheting up 'The Fear Factor'. Two articles .... one day, wow! I thought the guy was playing shuffle board in the caymans, looks like he is back. 

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

this law was target specifically at thaksin, let the persecution continue

Sure, but how is it that someone who is banned from politics can still lead a political party... does not legal to me. I have not seen this in the civilized world.. could you please show me where they let someone who is a convicted criminal banned from politics can still lead a political party ?