Thai Democrat MPs face terror charge

[webfact]

MPs face terror charge
THE NATION



POLICE COMPLAINT ACCUSES SIX DEMOCRATS OF TERRORISM OFFENCES OVER RUBBER PROTEST

BANGKOK: -- A POLITICAL appointee in the Prime Minister's Secretariat yesterday filed a police complaint against six Democrat Party MPs, accusing them of terrorism and security-related offences in connection with the current protests by rubber farmers in the South.

Sa-ngiam Samranrat, who said he was acting on his own, filed his complaint with the Crime Suppression Division against Songkhla MP Thaworn Senneam, Phatthalung MP Nipit Intarasombat and Nakhon Si Thammarat MPs Witthaya Kaewparadai, Apichat Karikanjana, Chinnaworn Boonyakiat and Thepthai Sennapong.

Some of them are senior Democrat MPs and party executives.

Sa-ngiam said the rubber protesters' closure of railway and road sections had disrupted transport and communications in the South, resulting in a severe economic impact on the region for almost a month.

Moreover, many officials were injured during their crackdown on the protesters, he added.

He said he had based his complaint against the opposition MPs on information obtained from media reports.

"In addition to those MPs, I will also take legal action against others who were present during the protest," he said.

Pol Colonel Anek Taosupap, who accepted Sa-ngiam's complaint, said investigators would determine whether the MPs had committed terrorism offences.

Protesters who exercise their constitutional right to gather publicly cannot be considered terrorists by law, he said.

A group of Democrat MPs, led by former party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, yesterday called a press conference at the Parliament building.

They denied an accusation by government politicians that Democrat MPs were behind the street protests by mostly southern rubber farmers in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Suthep said Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnog had asked him on Thursday to call the protest leaders and request that they end their rally.

Suthep said he had told him that as he did not know any of the protest leaders personally, he could not help. He asked that the prime minister meet with the protesters personally to show that the government was sincere about dealing with their demand for a higher rubber price, he added.

He also warned that a violent crackdown would only worsen the situation, instead of solving the problem.

Pracha has denied media reports that arrest warrants were issued for Democrat MPs Thaworn and Nipit, according to their party colleague, Witthaya.

Witthaya said yesterday that Pracha, who is in charge of security affairs, had informed him no warrants would be issued against them. "He said it is not government policy [to do so], nor will there be action to disperse the protest. The chief of Nakhon Si Thammarat police has been instructed not to take such action," he said.

Witthaya said legal action against Democrat MPs would not help the government tackle the problem for rubber growers. "The problem is caused by the government's neglect of the growers' plight over the past two years," the time Pheu Thai has been in power, he insisted.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday urged southern MPs to help with the negotiations with the farmers. She said the government was ready to help the farmers affected by low rubber prices.

"Talks should be a good forum for finding a way out," she added.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command, Colonel Banpot Poonpien, yesterday said it had been established that the protest in Nakhon Si Thammarat stemmed from displeasure by rubber farmers affected by low prices.

Surat Thani Governor Chatpong Chatraphuti expressed concern over the rubber farmers' plan to hold a large rally on Tuesday at the Surat Thani Cooperative, as the location is close to the province's airport.

"If the protesters close a road or the airport, the situation will get worse and tourism will be affected," he said.

In a related development, many northeastern rubber farmers are still unhappy with what the government has proposed to help the affected growers, said Sitthiporn Thepjantramaneechai, head of the Network of Rubber Farmers in the Northeast.

These unsatisfied farmers will continue with a plan to hold a street protest next Tuesday in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Many rubber growers in the Northeast opted out of the rally plan, as they were happy with the government's proposal.

Nakhon Ratchasima Governor Winai Buapradit said the local authorities were closely monitoring the situation and had put more than 700 crowd-control police on standby for a large street protest.

However, he added that it was estimated no more than 3,000 people would take part in the protest in the province.


-- The Nation 2013-08-31

[NongKhaiKid]

Just as well for Jatuporn and co., that inciting riot and arson isn't regard as terrorism just the right to protest, peacefully.

[Soutpeel]

So much for reconcilitation, this goverment will do anything to get their bill passed....lets charge all opposition with something and then promise to drop charges if they stop opposing the goverments plans...

Does this goverment really want more unrest ?.....this is the road they are going down and they are the cause of it

[Emptyset]

Just as well for Jatuporn and co., that inciting riot and arson isn't regard as terrorism just the right to protest, peacefully.

Isn't it? Why has Jatuporn been charged with terrorism then? (I disagree with both charges btw, although if it came down to it, I'd definitely say Jatuporn was closer to it than the rubber farmers).

[johnnie20110]

A POLITICAL appointee in the Prime Minister's Secretariat yesterday filed a police complaint against six Democrat Party MPs, accusing them of terrorism and security-related offences in connection with the current protests by rubber farmers in the South.

Sa-ngiam Samranrat

The Unsurprising and Expected background for Sa-ngiam:

" a political office holder and red-shirt leader, Sangiam Samranrat"

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Verdicts-in-CentralWorld-arson-case-tomorrow-30202602.html

[LuckyLew]

did this same person complain when red shirts blockaded Bangkok a few years back? doubt it

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I can't understand why the current government doesn't solve the problem with the rubber farmers the same way they solved the problem with the rice farmers...

Just set a market price far above the real market price, and then buy up all the rubber at inflated prices, then turn around and try to sell it on the world market at even more inflated prices...

It's worked so well for rice, I can see why the rubber farmers are saying, why not us too???

[jonnyscot]

Interesting to note that the complaint was based solely on media reports,,, TIT

[Moruya]

Pure intimidation from PTP and UDD

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[NongKhaiKid]

Just as well for Jatuporn and co., that inciting riot and arson isn't regard as terrorism just the right to protest, peacefully.

Isn't it? Why has Jatuporn been charged with terrorism then? (I disagree with both charges btw, although if it came down to it, I'd definitely say Jatuporn was closer to it than the rubber farmers).

I was being sacrastic but it doesn't matter what he and others like him have been charged with as do you really think they will ever see the inside of a court far less have to defend themselves against possible conviction ?

[claplo]

Another joke and waste of money that could be used for Thai's education and road and sidewalk repairs.

How can anyone take this country seriously,I wonder,

[Tatsujin]

In the interests of fairness, all the Red MP's should also be charged, we are allegedly in a Democratic society and i think that what happened in 2010 far outweighs anything the Democrats have done.

[SOTIRIOS]

.....has this become a dictatorship yet.....???

[mikemac]

"Remote Dictatorship" ! Thaksin probably has an app for that...................................

[Robby nz]

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command, Colonel Banpot Poonpien, yesterday said it had been established that the protest in Nakhon Si Thammarat stemmed from displeasure by rubber farmers affected by low prices.

I loved that bit.

Wonder how long it took him to work it out?

Possibly he had a committee to help.

[ridkun]

If having a friend as a police is convenient in Thailand, imagine how it would be if you have the whole department as your loyal employees.

[Robby nz]

Don't dismiss this to easily Sa-ngiam Samranrat would know what he is talking about.

As a red shirt leaded he would have personal experience of what terrorism is.

[Emptyset]

Just as well for Jatuporn and co., that inciting riot and arson isn't regard as terrorism just the right to protest, peacefully.

Isn't it? Why has Jatuporn been charged with terrorism then? (I disagree with both charges btw, although if it came down to it, I'd definitely say Jatuporn was closer to it than the rubber farmers).

I was being sacrastic but it doesn't matter what he and others like him have been charged with as do you really think they will ever see the inside of a court far less have to defend themselves against possible conviction ?

Of course, Jatuporn's already seen a stretch of jail, unlike any of his opponents. You're right though, I don't see the UDD cases going too far under this government but then I don't see the PAD cases (another postponement yesterday, what's that? the 30th time?) or any cases against Abhisit or Suthep moving on too far either. I'd be very surprised to see any of these people actually in the dock. The court will likely throw out these terror charges pretty quickly. Hope so anyway, it's a nonsense charge by someone with an axe to grind. How biased is the judicial system? Well, it's fair to say the DSI does the government's bidding, as it did for the last government. I wouldn't call the police exactly neutral either. But based on cases during this government, I haven't seen too much indication that the courts are biased. At least not biased in favour of the government and allies anyway. After all: Jatuporn had his MP status revoked, Jeng Dokjik was jailed, another relatively prominent red shirt locally was jailed yesterday for three years for insulting Prem etc. Whilst despite the threats against social media etc, I can't think of any cases to date where any government opponents have been jailed - I may have missed something though...

Edited August 31, 2013 by Emptyset

[NongKhaiKid]

Just as well for Jatuporn and co., that inciting riot and arson isn't regard as terrorism just the right to protest, peacefully.

Isn't it? Why has Jatuporn been charged with terrorism then? (I disagree with both charges btw, although if it came down to it, I'd definitely say Jatuporn was closer to it than the rubber farmers).

I was being sacrastic but it doesn't matter what he and others like him have been charged with as do you really think they will ever see the inside of a court far less have to defend themselves against possible conviction ?

Of course, Jatuporn's already seen a stretch of jail, unlike any of his opponents. You're right though, I don't see the UDD cases going too far under this government but then I don't see the PAD cases (another postponement yesterday, what's that? the 30th time?) or any cases against Abhisit or Suthep moving on too far either. I'd be very surprised to see any of these people actually in the dock. The court will likely throw out these terror charges pretty quickly. Hope so anyway, it's a nonsense charge by someone with an axe to grind. How biased is the judicial system? Well, it's fair to say the DSI does the government's bidding, as it did for the last government. I wouldn't call the police exactly neutral either. But based on cases during this government, I haven't seen too much indication that the courts are biased. At least not biased in favour of the government and allies anyway. After all: Jatuporn had his MP status revoked, Jeng Dokjik was jailed, another relatively prominent red shirt locally was jailed yesterday for three years for insulting Prem etc. Whilst despite the threats against social media etc, I can't think of any cases to date where any government opponents have been jailed - I may have missed something though...

Yes the legal and judicial system is erratic and unpredictable to say the least. In my time here I have heard so many times that powerful Thais are reluctant to hound each other as they may need the favour returned one day although it's usually in connection with corruption, misconduct, abuse of power and the like.

Politics can be different as getting political rivals or opponents out of the way helps consolidate real power especially when there's an agenda.

[Baerboxer]

So much for reconcilitation, this goverment will do anything to get their bill passed....lets charge all opposition with something and then promise to drop charges if they stop opposing the goverments plans...

Does this goverment really want more unrest ?.....this is the road they are going down and they are the cause of it

I don't think this government cares if there is unrest or not. Their leader and owner is determined to return and take what he sees as his rightful place, regardless of cost or consequences. PTP now seem to feel they have the police firmly under control and enough of the military allied to negate any threats the opposition might try to make. And, that still leaves the Red Shirt storm troopers in reserve. More than enough muscle to deal with any interventions.

Bullying and threatening the opposition into compliance is merely an effort to add a veneer of respectability - keep the American's and less important Westerners happy. Look democratic etc. If this doesn't happen quickly, they'll just do it anyway.

I spoke with some offshore investment managers earlier in the week - all expect a turbulent few years for Thailand. None looking to maintain or increase investments here.

[geriatrickid]

The southern protestors are being manipulated by the Democrats. The south is a Democrat stronghold and this sort of thing is to be expected as the Democrats are pulling out all stops to get their way. The desperation is palpable.

[johnnie20110]

The southern protestors are being manipulated by the Democrats. The south is a Democrat stronghold and this sort of thing is to be expected as the Democrats are pulling out all stops to get their way. The desperation is palpable.

That palpable desperation is actually the rubber farmers who struggle to even break even on farming their product.

[Baerboxer]

The southern protestors are being manipulated by the Democrats. The south is a Democrat stronghold and this sort of thing is to be expected as the Democrats are pulling out all stops to get their way. The desperation is palpable.

Of course, PTP don't manipulate anyone or anything to get their way, They just break the law. After all, why bother manipulating when you can do what you want when you're in power.

[whybother]

The southern protestors are being manipulated by the Democrats. The south is a Democrat stronghold and this sort of thing is to be expected as the Democrats are pulling out all stops to get their way. The desperation is palpable.

And that makes it terrorism?

[siampolee]

BANGKOK: -- A POLITICAL appointee in the Prime Minister's Secretariat yesterday filed a police complaint against six Democrat Party MPs, accusing them of terrorism and security-related offences in connection with the current protests by rubber farmers in the South.

And therein the quote above lies the reason for the complaint. A political appointee in the Prime Ministers (sic) office.

A political lap dog being fed or promised tasty morsels financial or otherwise for performing the masters tricks at the masters command, nothing more nothing less. In a circus this lap dog would;d be no doubt be jumping through flaming hoops all the way to Dubai to please the puppets ringmaster.

Interesting to note that it seems to date no private individual seems to have laid complaints against the politicians nor the rubber growers and others who are involved in this current demonstration process.

What has happened, what notice has been taken concerning Yinglucks comments that protesters should be treated with care ?

One can but presume if the protester is viewed through rose tinted glasses they are considered as peaceful citizens ?

Yet again another blatant display of democracy as seen and understood Thaksin and Red Shirt fashion.

Edited September 1, 2013 by siampolee

[Thait Spot]

The southern protestors are being manipulated by the Democrats. The south is a  Democrat stronghold and this  sort of thing is to be expected as the Democrats are pulling out all stops to  get their way. The desperation is palpable.

Emptying your bilge tanks again?

Let's see how the protests shape up nationally this week.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[tingtongteesood]

First off - prove it. Second, if it is found to be crap as I suspect it to be, I hope they sue his pants off for defamation. These people will have this 'terrorist' label against them from now on, that's about as libellous as it gets. And that c$&% who told the red shirts to burn down Bangkok should go to prison before anybody else does ! It's all a rouse to get the word 'terrorist' attached to the Dems, people will remember this report but not the subsequent exonneration. They will keep doing this to make the Dems look bad even if they did nothing...Why can't these idiots try running the damn country for a while instead of trying to ruin the oppositions image ?!

[MaiChai]

In the interests of fairness, all the Red MP's should also be charged, we are allegedly in a Democratic society and i think that what happened in 2010 far outweighs anything the Democrats have done.

Thailand : a land where terrorists can become ministers of Parliament. Yesterday's thug now wears a suite.

[Mosha]

The southern protestors are being manipulated by the Democrats. The south is a Democrat stronghold and this sort of thing is to be expected as the Democrats are pulling out all stops to get their way. The desperation is palpable.

Try getting by on a 10 rai family plot where you are lucky to get 100 tapping days. 20k goes to feed the trees, and rubber is your only option. We have friends in that position.