Govt to probe Thanathorn’s hiring of US lobbyists

By The Nation

 

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan

 

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said today (September 27) the government will probe the leader of Future Forward Party Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit for hiring American lobbyists under contract to allegedly discredit the Thai government through political activities.

 

Asked whether the issue has impacted Thailand’s national security, Prawit told the reporters that it had hurt the country's image.

 

Meanwhile, the Future Forward Party(FWP) has made a clarification of the document which has been shared in social media. The party said on its Facebook page that US company APCO Worldwide LLC is available for the public service under US law.

 

The party said that:

 

1. The document was not leaked as some Thai media claimed. It was specified to be published in order to show transparency of democratic political activities.

 

2. Thanathorn hired APCO Worldwide LLC to help him manage his schedule and English documents in order to contact persons and agencies during his US visit between July 12 and July 16. The hiring was in line with US law.

 

 

3. Thanathorn’s visit was not meant to harm Thailand or to organise political activities in order to discredit the country as alleged by some local media outlets. The party claimed that Thanathorn’s trip was to update the situation in Thailand and learn from the policies of other nations on economy, education, technology, and other areas which can be beneficial for the development of Thailand.

 

In addition, the purpose the trip was to meet individuals and institutions as it is normal for politicians to talk to ambassadors, the media, international agencies, academics, and civil society organisations. The trip was to strengthen Thailand's relationship with other countries, said the FWP.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30376838

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-09-28

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Appalling abuse of power again by this grub Prawit. Thanathorn or FFP haven't broken any Thai laws, and supposedly hurting the country's image isn't a crime.

Pretty certain that several countries actually limited diplomatic ties after the coup, and that actual damage to Thailand's image was assured then. These morons get more dreadful every time they rear their ugly heads 

Wonder if he will start employing the Nigerian scam artists rather than deporting them ? 

It shouldn't harm Thanathorn's political career even if it is proven to be a criminal offence. According to Khun Wissanu, crimes committed outside of Thailand don't count!

Good move get the outside world onside and ready to invest when these dinosaurs are extinct. That may take some time though.

Hurt the country's image. Prawit can hardly talk as every picture of him only highlights corruption and blatent ignorance

Edited September 28, 20196 yr by Reigntax

Future Forward Party and Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit,

are really a thorn in the Government's side,afraid of the new

younger type of politics,they are going to prevent through

any means at their disposal ,to discredit his party,and try

to stop it been a credible opposition to the Government.

regards Worgeordie  

Prayut, Prawit and the Phalang Pracharat Party are running scared of this man. They and their rich friends see him as a serious threat and someone who, in the future and given the opportunity, might address the imbalance of wealth and inequality within the country. 

In the meantime all these fools are doing with this nonsense is to draw international attention to themselves. Another own goal!

They are DETERMINED to stop Thanathorn at all costs. They will not relent.

That young, principled man is potentially far, far too dangerous to them. I mean to say, a man of honour, probity, fairness, genuine democracy, equity and integrity? Can't have any of that in Thailand!!

 

Edited September 28, 20196 yr by Eligius

Stryker vehicles, submarines, warship and now attack helicopters !

 

Go figure. I rest my case.

Prawit continues his watch!

So hiring lobbyists is a restricted occupation? Who can or cannot do this? Any number of Thais have used lobbyists in the past including the government.

Right, so they want to try and prosecute someone for paying someone else to do something that’s perfectly legal. Oh, and it happened in another county. All under the guise of it hurting the country’s image. But having ministers with drug convictions and fake PhDs is perfectly okay. 
 

These lot really will be the architects of their own demise. 

Just amazing how these military lugheads really want to destroy this guy at any cost, even if by manufacturing some sort of national interest or national security or losing face thing. Appalling.

The only threat to the country's security is Prayuth, Prawit and all their Muppets.

 

......And of course a certain Steven

Edited September 28, 20196 yr by Reigntax

3 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

So hiring lobbyists is a restricted occupation? Who can or cannot do this? Any number of Thais have used lobbyists in the past including the government.

Agree and no doubt many of the commission agents (thousands of examples exist) who negotiate gov't contracts with outside companies could be called be called lobbyists.

Seeing that photo reminded me its lunch time, must make a HAM sandwich.

I have a better suggestion. How about if the government investigates every general in the army. Then they can begin to investigate every police captain and finish with every officer in immigration. 

 

Oh, I forgot. The army was installed to protect them. And the elites. Better to stick with investigating only ex officers, and ex ministers. 

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Prawit told the reporters that it had hurt the country's image

Everybody under the sun hurts Thailand's image

 

Prawit's wattle hurts Thailand's image:

Edited September 28, 20196 yr by klauskunkel

What a bunch of far quits. 

6 hours ago, Reigntax said:

Hurt the country's image. Prawit can hardly talk as every picture of him only highlights corruption and blatent ignorance

You have to first have an image before you hurt it.

 

Thailand is known the world over as being a dysfunctional, dishonest, oppressive country full of corruption and unable to hold a government together. It’s THE world’s largest brothel, has an appalling human trafficking / slave record, poor education, some of the most dangerous roads in earth, and terrible pollution with no end in sight.
 

The only thing holding the country together is foreign investment, otherwise, Thailand wouldn’t be any further along than its neighbors, who are catching up and will eventually pass Thailand in all areas.

 

It’s such a mess that the guy who runs the entire show chooses to live in another country. 
 

You can’t harm Thailand’s image if you tried.

He is a thorn in their sides. 

But its OK for the Rooster to rig the election, lie about the vote count!! pay of the villages  control the senate with his brother in law his sister and all his Army groonies but a young man that wants change  has to stopped. 

Loved how the Rooster said a high income for all thai in 17 yrs.  Aha he means the 1% of the 1% 

The blatant lies just keep coming.. 

And Mr watch he can't even walk and I wonder which friend let him a watch for his big trip to th USA..  

7 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Future Forward Party and Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit,

are really a thorn in the Government's side,afraid of the new

younger type of politics,they are going to prevent through

any means at their disposal ,to discredit his party,and try

to stop it been a credible opposition to the Government.

regards Worgeordie  

You cannot prevent the younger generation and that is good. Seems like the Future Forward Party has taken the place of the shinawatras in the fear of these military boneheads.

1 hour ago, dcnx said:

You have to first have an image before you hurt it.

 

Thailand is known the world over as being a dysfunctional, dishonest, oppressive country full of corruption and unable to hold a government together. It’s THE world’s largest brothel, has an appalling human trafficking / slave record, poor education, some of the most dangerous roads in earth, and terrible pollution with no end in sight.
 

The only thing holding the country together is foreign investment, otherwise, Thailand wouldn’t be any further along than its neighbors, who are catching up and will eventually pass Thailand in all areas.

 

It’s such a mess that the guy who runs the entire show chooses to live in another country. 
 

You can’t harm Thailand’s image if you tried.

What a brilliant post, Dcnx (above)! I think you deserve an award for pertinently encapsulating in a few lines all the main problems blighting Thailand today. Well said, my friend!

pos

8 hours ago, madmitch said:

It shouldn't harm Thanathorn's political career even if it is proven to be a criminal offence. According to Khun Wissanu, crimes committed outside of Thailand don't count!

If drug related it seems OK, not sure about getting toadies knickers In knot. 

2 hours ago, dcnx said:

You have to first have an image before you hurt it.

 

Thailand is known the world over as being a dysfunctional, dishonest, oppressive country full of corruption and unable to hold a government together. It’s THE world’s largest brothel, has an appalling human trafficking / slave record, poor education, some of the most dangerous roads in earth, and terrible pollution with no end in sight.
 

The only thing holding the country together is foreign investment, otherwise, Thailand wouldn’t be any further along than its neighbors, who are catching up and will eventually pass Thailand in all areas.

 

It’s such a mess that the guy who runs the entire show chooses to live in another country. 
 

You can’t harm Thailand’s image if you tried.

It's easy to understand why a certain party lives off-shore, although napoleon and his pet toad haven't twigged as to why? 

1 hour ago, Mainhattencitizen said:

You cannot prevent the younger generation and that is good. Seems like the Future Forward Party has taken the place of the shinawatras in the fear of these military boneheads.

But for very very different reasons.

they claim their government it's a democracy, if that's the case they shouldn't condemn any moves, travels, comments, declarations by the opposition, that's what democracy is about, free speech

10 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Wonder if he will start employing the Nigerian scam artists rather than deporting them ? 

Nigerians are overrated. Buy cheap, pay double ????