Image Credit: Amnesty International Thailand

 

Vice Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s office Seksakol Atthawong claimed today (Tuesday) that he has collected up to a million signatures in support of his campaign to expel Amnesty International (AI) from Thailand, which he and his supporters accuse of being a threat to the country.

 

He said that the signatures will, however, have to be verified for authenticity before being submitted to the Department of Provincial Administration to proceed with the withdrawal of the operating licence of Amnesty International Thailand.

 

Seksakol, who is better known as “Rambo Isan”, then cited a recent opinion poll, conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), to gauge public opinion on a government bill to regulate the operations of both Thai and international non-profit and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Thailand.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/one-million-signatures-claimed-in-support-of-amnesty-international-ousting/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-01-18

 

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Certainly without the likes of Amnesty International  authoritarian governments can 'disappear' opponents more easily. Fortunately that never happens here.

15 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

He said that the signatures will, however, have to be verified for authenticity

authenticity it's a word not in Thai government's vocabulary.... unfortunately they all be certified/authenticated because it's covenient to/for the governments future actions, remove any and all possible threats  to a possible democracy

Edited January 18, 20224 yr by Mavideol

This could be another "shoot yourself in the foot" measure as regards international tourism, since I suspect such travelers lean to the left more than the general populations in the countries they come from, and Amnesty International probably has semi-sacred status among that group. But maybe this will give TAT a new motto to use: "Vacation in a tropical, beautiful, friendly, rabidly authoritarian paradise!" 

That said, I can actually see reason for a very mild version of the transparency requirements. 

The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand has been posting about these proposals and they are understandably concerned. 

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yeah, I can understand why.

Thailand is so different to the west, bloody Pommy organizations, trying to change Thailand, leave Thailand alone.

Look at the countries you've screwed up, I hate living in Australia with its bullcrap way, ... sadly, it's a mess. 

The west should change, Thailand is doing a great job, follow their leadership. It's not perfect but if perfection is what you want best find another planet to live, because you won't find it on planet Earth. 

Will you still feel the same way when Thailand kicks you out in one of their dubious, on-a-whim policies? Oz would welcome you with open arms. I’m sure you’re well missed. 

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I love all races. 

 

I'm a brother to everyone. 

 

Thailand is doing a great job. 

 

It's the outsiders causing problems. 

Leave us alone, fix up your own backyard first. 

 

Thailand is doing a great job of what?

4 minutes ago, baboon said:

Thailand is doing a great job of what?

What country do you live. 

 

Let's have a look and see how well you're doing. 

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yeah, I can understand why.

Thailand is so different to the west, bloody Pommy organizations, trying to change Thailand, leave Thailand alone.

Look at the countries you've screwed up, I hate living in Australia with its bullcrap way, ... sadly, it's a mess. 

The west should change, Thailand is doing a great job, follow their leadership. It's not perfect but if perfection is what you want best find another planet to live, because you won't find it on planet Earth. 

Yet you live in Australia..good luck..

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Seksakol, who is better known as “Rambo Isan” (...)

'Rambo Kwai' would be a more fitting nick for him...

 

Yes, get rid of all these silly Western ideas, and international organisations! Thailand never had an Age of Enlightenment, and truly doesn't want one!! - Feudalism is alive, kicking, and screaming in Thailand. Back to the past!

Edited January 18, 20224 yr by StayinThailand2much

A trolling comment and an ensuing bickering, off-topic exchange have been removed.

 

If the expel become a reality, then there will be negative consequences for Thailand in terms of international investment decisions.

I knew when I moved here 16 years ago that the Thais had a history of corruption, militarism and authoritarianism. But I thought that these tendencies would be tempered by international opinion, foreign investment and the drive to become a developed nation.

 

But recent events have proven me wrong. The most recent coup, the manipulation of the constitution, the creation of the ridiculous Senate, the suppression of free speech, and now the attempt to expel the most respected human rights watchdog in the world. Behind it all is the sinister Peter Lorre-like Prawit and his evil henchmen Thamant. They have aspirations to turn Thailand into Myanmar. Or North Korea.

 

Paul Laew

Edited January 18, 20224 yr by Paulaew
grammar

46 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Yet you live in Australia..good luck..

No they screwed up Australia. 

 

That's why I'm living in the best country on the planet. 

Thailand 

This country is going down the ### fast

If they could just get rid of that pesky Amnesty International the government could really get to work on consolidating their grip on power. 

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Vice Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s office Seksakol Atthawong claimed today (Tuesday) that he has collected up to a million signatures in support of his campaign to expel Amnesty International (AI) from Thailand, which he and his supporters accuse of being a threat to the country.

Don't believe a word of it. 

 

If they go ahead and withdraw the operating licence of Amnesty International Thailand along with their media ethics draft law its "nothing short of a declaration of war against press freedom in Thailand & the public’s right to be informed with diverse news,views and transparency"

 

 

11 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

Almost everyone here loves Thailand. Many are only concerned about the development of human rights, freedom of speech, the right to demonstrate, freedom of the media, economic development, income distribution, democracy,educational quality and so on.

Many of us have a horse in the race too. We have family here, we have lived here for ages and want what's best for the country and for the benefit of those we love. Surely, we have the right to comment on the rights and the wrongs in this country. And one of the biggest wrongs is this administration and Prayuth's lapdogs who are totally lacking in ethics.    

Edited January 18, 20224 yr by GarryP

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He said that the signatures will, however, have to be verified for authenticity before

in real life, the verification should be done before releasing the information

if vice minister attached to the PM is the main organiser of this signature action, it does mean he works in an official capacity and with approval of his direct superior.

that does expose an open fight of state against human rights organisation

Why would anyone, outside of senior military or government officers, sign a petition to oust an organisation that most people in Thailand would only be vaguely aware of?

 

Although I can believe there are at least a million government employees here, if we include Police and Army, so perhaps they all signed it?

11 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

Why would anyone, outside of senior military or government officers, sign a petition to oust an organisation that most people in Thailand would only be vaguely aware of?

 

Although I can believe there are at least a million government employees here, if we include Police and Army, so perhaps they all signed it?

I have my doubts as to whether 1 million people really signed it. It would be nice if the exact wording of what exactly was signed was also available. Gathering 1 million legally binding signatures is a Herculean task for a single deputy officer.

I'm sure that Seksakol the "Isan Rambo" will be called off. Thailand's economy is linked to many economies in the world. That Seksakol is not the brightest candle on the cake is also clear for his senior officers.

5 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Vice Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s office Seksakol Atthawong claimed today (Tuesday) that he has collected up to a million signatures in support of his campaign to expel Amnesty International (AI) from Thailand, which he and his supporters accuse of being a threat to

him and his buddies being allowed to get away with abuse of power and crushing all and any dissenting voices. 

7 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

I'm sure that Seksakol the "Isan Rambo" will be called off. Thailand's economy is linked to many economies in the world. That Seksakol is not the brightest candle on the cake is also clear for his senior officers.

He's doing the bidding of others. He's a total hypocrite. Amnesty actually came out to protect/defend him when he was a red shirt. 

33 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

I have my doubts as to whether 1 million people really signed it. It would be nice if the exact wording of what exactly was signed was also available. Gathering 1 million legally binding signatures is a Herculean task for a single deputy officer.

I don't think it was meant that he collected them personally.

And getting a million signatures here would be a doddle. Anyone older than say, 40, are intimidated by Frightfully Important People in shiny uniforms and would likely sign their own death warrants without complaint...

11 minutes ago, internationalism said:

clear slander.

the opposite is true 

Isn't it great when you can write any old balls and pass it off as fact?

Don't know what the truth is or don't like it? Simple. Make up your own...

29 minutes ago, GarryP said:

He's doing the bidding of others. He's a total hypocrite. Amnesty actually came out to protect/defend him when he was a red shirt. 

This is precisely the lack of ethics as you wrote earlier. Ai is respected, has power and connections with politicians and decision makers worldwide. Their job is to point out humanitarian abuses, be it on fishing boats, in prisons, in the political arena or in pineapple factories. Seksakol  certainly does not understand what the economic consequences of an expel can be for Thailand.

Seksakol alleged that some NGOs have been supporting protest groups in Thailand.

Late last year, a few protests were held by pro-establishment groups calling for the expulsion of the NGO for similar reasons.

 

Wonder where these lackeys went to hold their protests.

Probably not the Democracy  Monument.

"The NIDA poll showed that 52.36% of the respondents agree with the requirement for NGOs to be transparent about their sources of funding, with 58.14% supporting for the same requirement for NGOs receiving foreign funding. 34.70% of the respondents agree that NGOs must not get involved in activities deemed to be a threat to national security or which cause social division."

 

How about requiring government organizations and personnel: elected officials, civil servants, military officers, etc., be transparent about their sources of funding?

How can we get rid of this man???? He is doing more damage to the country than anything else. He is against everything and want to keep the 19th century rules