webfact Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 RAJABHAKTI SCANDALUneasy stand-off over parkWasamon Audjarint,Kasamakorn ChanwanpenThe NationA soldier stands behind a barricade outside Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin, |which was closed |yesterday morning.Students vow to return, but prime minister says they won't be permittedBANGKOK: -- STUDENT ACTIVISTS barred from visiting the controversial Rajabhakti Park vowed yesterday they would not give up and would reach the site to publicise their anti-corruption campaign before the New Year. However, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday they would not be allowed to go there.Prayut said the activists were detained on Monday to avoid a possible clash with supporters of the royal park project."If laws were violated, all of them would be put in jail," the PM said after the Cabinet meeting. "That's why I don't want it to happen and did everything to ease the situation."Government spokesman Major-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the government did not want to prosecute the activists under the current act prohibiting gatherings of more than five people.Most of them were students and should not have a criminal record on their profiles, Sansern said.The activists' move could also be a political stunt rather than to push for a probe into reported corruption in the royal park project."It's not that we limited their rights and freedom... but to investigate the matter, they needed to look at relevant documents instead of going to the park."A group of students and activists led by Thammasat University student Sirawith Seritiwat was blocked while travelling by train from the capital to the park in Prachuap Khiri Khan. They were detained for hours before being freed on the condition they do not try to go there again.Sirawith said the group's move had been peaceful and they had not been backed by any political groups. He said the trip to Rajabhakti Park on Monday should not be such a big deal - just a field trip aiming to note corruption in the building of the park, he told reporters yesterday.The arrest of the students on Monday angered some domestic and international observers, who noted how some 200 pro-junta "allies" were allowed to rally outside the US embassy recently. While the protest against US ambassador Glyn Davies was allowed, the authorities blocked the students from going to the Army park.But Deputy Premier and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said officials had evenly applied the same standard of security for all parties."There is no double standard on this matter," he said "The same measure will also be applied for any future gathering. I don't want any conflicts to happen."Complaint to anti-graft agencyMeanwhile Veera Somkwamkid, secretary general of the People's Network Against Corruption of Thailand, lodged a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday against Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Sutabutr and Labour Minister Gen Sirichai Dithakul, the former permanent secretary for Defence, over the park scandal."There are grounds to believe that they engaged in abuse of authority or dereliction of duty," Veera said.He noted that two of Udomdej's aides were accused of playing a role in the project's alleged irregularities, and that Udomdej and Sirichai failed to ensure that procurement contracts for the project proceeded in line with government procedures."This project uses some of the state budget," Veera said.Udomdej admitted to feeling pressure from the Rajabhakti scandal but vowed to stay put until ongoing investigations clear his name."I am human. So when something comes up, I of course think about it," Udomdej said in response to a question about the growing calls for him to step down.The deputy defence minister is at the centre of the scandal not only because he chairs the Rajabhakti Park Foundation, but also because he left the helm of the Army just a few months ago.Funded mainly by about Bt1 billion in donations, the Rajabhakti Park project developed a grand park in Hua Hin and erected huge statues of seven former Thai kings under Army supervision. The park is also built on Army land."I am confident that the panel responsible for the project's construction can clarify everything," he said.He said the panel transparently signed agreements with participating foundries, and in fact did not have to take responsibility for anything that foundries negotiated with other figures. "But when the panel heard that some negotiations might be inappropriate, it intervened for the sake of transparency," he said.Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya, meanwhile, thanked red-shirt leaders Jatuporn Prompan and Nuttawut Saikuar for offering to provide information related to the alleged irregularities in the park project to authorities.The government security team was now investigating a bogus diagram of the graft scandal that depicts Prayut, his family, Prawit and many ministers as involved in reported irregularities. The diagram could have been drawn up to shake people's trust in the government rather than to discredit any specific person, Prawit said.He would get responsible agencies to sue any wrongdoers for defamation and violating the Computer Act.Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Uneasy-stand-off-over-park-30274544.html-- The Nation 2015-12-09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NongKhaiKid Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 (edited) No double standards ? Rubbish, there's nothing but and the excuses just get weaker and weaker. Why should the PM worry though as he has all the power and won't hesitate to use it, for selected issues, while maintaining the ' I have spoken ' attitude and everyone should know what opposition can mean. The govt can't blame others for all that's going wrong and their complete lack of credibility as they're doing a bang up job of screwing up themselves. Edited December 8, 2015 by NongKhaiKid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 It's past time for a full investigation by someone like the NACC, the PM needs to be seen to be getting to the bottom of this particular mess amongst others, in order to clear his government's name and identify anyone who has broken the law. ""If laws were violated, all of them would be put in jail," the PM said after the Cabinet meeting", he said it about the protesters, but it should be seen to apply equally to any of those who are found to have been corrupt. "We must disclose public information and uphold honesty and transparency," he said. "We must not allow evil people to rob the country every day. We must find ways to eradicate them from our country" as the President of the Privy Council said recently. So go to it ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somtamnication Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 "Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya, meanwhile, thanked red-shirt leaders Jatuporn Prompan and Nuttawut Saikuar for offering to provide information related to the alleged irregularities in the park project to authorities." Doesn't get more surreal than that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramrod711 Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 It's not that we limited their rights and freedom... Actually, what you did was discourage people from coming forward to expose corruption, when you should be encouraging and supporting them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thian Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Oh boy. Why don't they open the books with all the receipts and make them public? Then everyone can see the costs of that park and if there was corruption. And if there was any corruption at all the general should act to that and arrest the culprits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirtless Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Corruption is only investigated if its not in Prayut s government , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark131v Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 (edited) 'The arrest of the students on Monday angered some domestic and international observers, who noted how some 200 pro-junta "allies" were allowed to rally outside the US embassy recently. While the protest against US ambassador Glyn Davies was allowed, the authorities blocked the students from going to the Army park.But Deputy Premier and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said officials had evenly applied the same standard of security for all parties' Military spokesman speak's the misinformation and none truths start to roll!!! Why can they not see this? is it arrogance, ignorance, stupidity they are truly cringe-worthy..... '"There is no double standard on this matter," he said "The same measure will also be applied for any future gathering. I don't want any conflicts to happen." Yes, yes of course there is, what alternate reality do theses cretins inhabit? Edited December 9, 2015 by mark131v Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussieinthailand Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Here's the thing, The protestors are saying they want to expose the need for independent and transparent investigation on the possible corruption on this project. But the junta are saying they (the students) are political protestors and no more than 5 people can come together at one time and place, and if they try to go too the park again they will go too gaol as the PM has now been quoted as saying. So there is the question, are the students political protestors, or are they calling for independent transparent investigations over the park project? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caveat Emptor Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 There is that word that the forum won't allow to be used but is becoming more and more applicable. What next when the junta feels increasingly embattled ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbthailand Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 'The arrest of the students on Monday angered some domestic and international observers, who noted how some 200 pro-junta "allies" were allowed to rally outside the US embassy recently. While the protest against US ambassador Glyn Davies was allowed, the authorities blocked the students from going to the Army park. But Deputy Premier and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said officials had evenly applied the same standard of security for all parties' Military spokesman speak's the misinformation and none truths start to roll!!! Why can they not see this? is it arrogance, ignorance, stupidity they are truly cringe-worthy..... '"There is no double standard on this matter," he said "The same measure will also be applied for any future gathering. I don't want any conflicts to happen." Yes, yes of course there is, what alternate reality do theses cretins inhabit? Why can they not see this? is it arrogance, ignorance, stupidity good question. They are military dinosaurs, so arrogance is inbred. Ignorance? Well, it is certain that the current "PM" has not shown any exceptional levels of intelligence during his self-appointed time in office and he had risen to the very top of the military pyramid. That would indicate that intelligence is not a deciding factor of success in the Thai military. Stupidity? ... here, I think maybe that is true. It is true that they seem to take the Thai people for idiots... how else could they even imagine making such obviously phoney statements. The bottom line is that the junta is completely unaccountable and untouchable, therefore openly lying has no serious consequences for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbthailand Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 There is that word that the forum won't allow to be used but is becoming more and more applicable. What next when the junta feels increasingly embattled ? What next when the junta feels increasingly embattled ? more strict oppression followed by open violence against the Thai people... It happened through the 60s, '73, '76, '92, '10... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waldroj Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 The precedent has now been set. Just sit back and wait for the war elephant's next promised public outing to the US Embassy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NongKhaiKid Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 There is that word that the forum won't allow to be used but is becoming more and more applicable. What next when the junta feels increasingly embattled ? What next when the junta feels increasingly embattled ? more strict oppression followed by open violence against the Thai people... It happened through the 60s, '73, '76, '92, '10... Yes and isn't that likely to become an ever increasing worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbthailand Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 There is that word that the forum won't allow to be used but is becoming more and more applicable. What next when the junta feels increasingly embattled ? What next when the junta feels increasingly embattled ? more strict oppression followed by open violence against the Thai people... It happened through the 60s, '73, '76, '92, '10... Yes and isn't that likely to become an ever increasing worry. yes, it is. They have already let out the dogs... (ultra-nationalist radicals) which has always preceded violence and a military crackdown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKKBrit Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 You can smell the paranoia. The cluster<deleted> will begin in 3.....2.....1...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lupatria Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 "It's not that we limited their rights and freedom... They were detained for hours before being freed… One could not possibly explain Thai logic better than this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuanku Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 “What is it about the government and its agents and employees that they can lie to us with impunity, but we risk being sent to jail if we lie to them?”― Andrew P. Napolitano, Lies the Government Told You: Myth, Power, and Deception in American History Or even tell the unwelcome truth! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Loh Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 There is that word that the forum won't allow to be used but is becoming more and more applicable. What next when the junta feels increasingly embattled ? What next when the junta feels increasingly embattled ?more strict oppression followed by open violence against the Thai people... It happened through the 60s, '73, '76, '92, '10... Yes and isn't that likely to become an ever increasing worry. yes, it is.They have already let out the dogs... (ultra-nationalist radicals) which has always preceded violence and a military crackdown Much as we don't want a repeat of Thammasart '76, the government is repeating the same mistakes in handling of public and students discontents. If the government don't clamp down on the ultra royalists and take stern action against soldiers in the mix, it will only embolden this group and physical confrontation can't be discounted. The demeanor of the PM doesn't seem to suggest that he will back down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulic Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Regardless of the corruption, those statues are impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theguyfromanotherforum Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Yes, this is a great advertisement actually. I do want to see it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthailand Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Glad the road's fixed! Two days, such efficiency! I'd like to see my statues. All of us paid for them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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