Junta downplays surveillance of Pheu Thai politician as she campaigns

By Jittraporn Senawongse 
The Nation

 

 

A junta spokesman on Monday tried to downplay criticism after a video clip showed a Pheu Thai leader talking to soldiers reportedly assigned to follow her election campaign.

 

The clip showed Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, chairperson of the party’s strategic panel, approaching three army soldiers while campaigning in Pakret district on Saturday.

 

The junta was criticised for assigning the soldiers to secretly follow her campaign and gather information. 

 

Sudarat asked the prime minister via the media why the soldiers had not been returned to the barracks now that the country is heading to a national election.

 

Junta spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvari said that the discussion between Sudarat and the soldiers was conducted in a friendly and honorable atmosphere, rather than a threatening or inappropriate one.

 

“Nothing that went beyond general peace monitoring has been done,” Winthai insisted.

 

This has been implemented in every area, the spokesman said, adding that the army was also assigned to work such as peacekeeping, particularly for preventing ill-intentioned groups from instigating chaos.

 

“We did not focus our jobs on individuals or politicians. Our goals are to keep order in each area,” he said.

 

He asked for the public to understand the work of officers.

 

The authorities are watching movements in areas, particularly gathering security information to facilitate the upcoming March 24 national election, he said.

 

He stressed that the public should not worry, as the authorities’ activities would be conducted according to the law.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30363099

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-28

3 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

He stressed that the public should not worry, as the authorities’ activities would be conducted according to the law.

is that Art 44 law?

8 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The junta was criticised for assigning the soldiers to secretly follow her campaign and gather information. 

It is getting hideously embarrassing now for these clowns in charge, and hopefully the electorate can see it all, and will want to start afresh. 

If all that can be gained by the Thai people is the fear their team gives the elites then that's something, small but something. 

 

6 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

It is getting hideously embarrassing now for these clowns in charge, and hopefully the electorate can see it all, and will want to start afresh. 

My wife has never cared about politics... but this is the first time she really wants to vote. Anything to get someone else in power. ????

And some people still cannot see that this 'election' is a total insult to the mass of the Thai people - and a tragi-comic farce?!

But did she expect no less? They have no intention on giving the reigns to anyone else. 

Edited January 28, 20197 yr by holy cow cm

Can Pheu Thai also use surveillance against the Thai Military leaders, or would that be a no-no?

1 hour ago, Eligius said:

And some people still cannot see that this 'election' is a total insult to the mass of the Thai people - and a tragi-comic farce?!

What election is that? It will be postponed again because Thai citizens do not yet understand who they Must vote for.

That is my prediction. If Thai citizens do not support the wonderful junta, my second prediction is that some violence

will return, caused by you know who and that will create a reason to extend a junta shutdown.

Remember the quote that says something like all power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I hope it will not happen but that is what it does look like.

 

 

the same rhetoric for the past five years, the army has no business meddling in people campaigning for the upcoming elections. 

4 hours ago, Prissana Pescud said:

What election is that? It will be postponed again because Thai citizens do not yet understand who they Must vote for.

That is my prediction. If Thai citizens do not support the wonderful junta, my second prediction is that some violence

will return, caused by you know who and that will create a reason to extend a junta shutdown.

Remember the quote that says something like all power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I hope it will not happen but that is what it does look like.

My prediction is that the votes will be counted in such a way (if necessary way of counting will be adjusted later using article 44) that the junta wins ????

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“Nothing that went beyond general peace monitoring has been done,” Winthai insisted.

must be a requirement for spokesman to lack intelligence; what he said Totally misses the point; they shoudlnt be there, are not secret and now put their foot right in it publicly; our new , less-then-lovable thailand

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“Nothing that went beyond general peace monitoring has been done,”

Yeah, and we all know the real name of the monitor who is camouflaging under the nickname "General Peace."

I wouldn't be surprised if the voters will be accompanied by monitoring officers taking notes, while they make the cross on the ballots 

Edited January 29, 20197 yr by Lupatria

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Nothing that went beyond general peace monitoring has been done,” Winthai insisted.

Sounds like something’ Sarah Sanders would say. 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He asked for the public to understand the work of officers.

The public needs to vote the green team out of office.  The time for understanding has long since gone.  

13 hours ago, GeoMill said:

My wife has never cared about politics... but this is the first time she really wants to vote. Anything to get someone else in power. ????

I congratulate you on picking a very clever lady to be your wife.

I hope there are millions and millions more smart Thai women who think like her.

Please encourage her to talk to her friends (and you know what she should talk about).

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Junta downplays surveillance of Pheu Thai politician as she campaigns

Prayuth clearly must be getting some sort of kick out of showing the world that there are simply no limits to the evil that he is capable of. That he cannot see this army surveillance - 3 big soldiers harassing one woman, for christ's sake - as both intimidating and outrageously biassed is yet another page of Prayuth's encyclopedia of evil .

11 hours ago, Prissana Pescud said:

What election is that? It will be postponed again because Thai citizens do not yet understand who they Must vote for.

That is my prediction. If Thai citizens do not support the wonderful junta, my second prediction is that some violence

will return, caused by you know who and that will create a reason to extend a junta shutdown.

Remember the quote that says something like all power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I hope it will not happen but that is what it does look like.

 

 

Quite and I would suspect that the junta are furiously scratching heads trying to figure someway to abort the elections.

This is intimidation and spying. Pure and simple.

14 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

It is getting hideously embarrassing now for these clowns in charge, and hopefully the electorate can see it all, and will want to start afresh. 

Won't matter one little bit what the People want. As soon as the elites feel their dominance threatened, their dogs will jump in again.

Edited January 29, 20197 yr by GalaxyMan

14 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

It is getting hideously embarrassing now for these clowns in charge, and hopefully the electorate can see it all, and will want to start afresh. 

 

She openly cavorts with a known criminal fugitive who happens to own the political party she's trying to "lead" and has endorsed her as potential PM.

 

Now that might attract the security forces in any country.

26 minutes ago, Katipo said:

This is intimidation and spying. Pure and simple.

 

Well maybe she shouldn't be in cahoots with a convicted crook then.

36 minutes ago, Ossy said:

Prayuth clearly must be getting some sort of kick out of showing the world that there are simply no limits to the evil that he is capable of. That he cannot see this army surveillance - 3 big soldiers harassing one woman, for christ's sake - as both intimidating and outrageously biassed is yet another page of Prayuth's encyclopedia of evil .

 

Lovely example of fake news! Wheres the harassment? Surveillance of someone known to be close with a wanted convicted criminal with political PM aspirations? 

 

Would certainly be under Special Branch observation in the UK. 

Just now, Baerboxer said:

 

She openly cavorts with a known criminal fugitive who happens to own the political party she's trying to "lead" and has endorsed her as potential PM.

Cavorts?

 

Dictionary result for cavort: jump or dance around excitedly.

 

You have any photo evidence of this?

50 minutes ago, neeray said:

I congratulate you on picking a very clever lady to be your wife.

I hope there are millions and millions more smart Thai women who think like her.

Please encourage her to talk to her friends (and you know what she should talk about).

 

Hmmm. Last time many people I know voted PTP. Thought YL might be a catalyst for change and wanted someone different in power. They all went to the mass protests when she tried to grant her crooked brother total amnesty and immunity. They all supported the army removing her caretaker floundering administration. Now they all want the Junta out and someone else in power.

 

The sad thing is they only ever get the same same but different type of politician. Only the politicians profit massively.

3 minutes ago, GalaxyMan said:

Cavorts?

 

Dictionary result for cavort: jump or dance around excitedly.

 

You have any photo evidence of this?

 

She seemed very excited in the interviews when she received the news that the party owner had selected her to be the next puppet endorsed her as potential PM candidate.

 

Btw - English is a language of expression, figures of speech and richness. Not a language constrained by only literal meaning attached to every word. 

13 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

She openly cavorts with a known criminal fugitive who happens to own the political party she's trying to "lead" and has endorsed her as potential PM.

 

Now that might attract the security forces in any country.

So what about the other parties who have the military following them everywhere? It is not only Pheu Thai and its splinter parties, but all parties who have taken an anti junta stance who are subject to this intimidation. 

Criminal cavorting and being in cahoots? Is that the charge, BB?

So the red shirts have allocated someone to monitor the clowns?

      What a load Of government B/S.  Out of uniform, they are spies, got now't to do with security, I really hope the Thai people are not too dumb, to see through the lies, threats, and all the dirty tricks this military criminal has imposed.