Seizure of Yingluck calendars upsets Pheu Thai

[webfact]

POLITICS
Seizure of calendars upsets Pheu Thai
THE NATION


Photo from Facebook Yingluck Shinawatra

Party complains to PM over 'violation of rights' but govt defends governor

BANGKOK: -- PHEU THAI PARTY yesterday petitioned Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha over alleged discrimination and human rights violations committed by the Roi Et governor after he halted the distribution of calendars embossed with pictures of ex-prime ministers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra.

Pheu Thai caretaker leader Pol Lt-General Viroj Pao-in signed the petition, which cited media reports that said Governor Anusorn Kaewkangwan instructed all district chiefs in the province to halt the distribution of the 2016 calendars.

Anusorn cited the need to foster peace and reconciliation for the move.

But Viroj said the action was a human rights violation.

He said many ordinary people and juristic bodies were entitled to produce calendars for the New Year and distribute them.

"To give out calendars is to send a message of love and connection between people so it should not disturb the peace or ruin reconciliation as alleged by the governor," Viroj wrote.

He said only calendars with pornographic material should be banned. People had the right to reject the calendars, he noted.

"Restoring peace and reconciliation should be carried out with fairness and regards to human rights and should not be politicised."

Viroj called on Prayut to order the governor or others to cancel the suspension order.

But government spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that Anusorn had done the right thing.

The calendars were decorated with photos of a fugitive - Thaksin - and someone facing legal cases - Yingluck - and as such should not been handed out during official meetings, he said, adding that Anusorn's action was designed to prevent conflicts in |society.

In Khon Kaen, 100 police, military personnel and civil officers set up checkpoints in Ban Pai district and seized more than 10 of the Shinawatra calendars.

The officers stopped former Pheu Thai MPs from taking Yingluck to greet and give New Year gifts to villagers in the district.

Yingluck's team then sought a blessing at a sacred Buddha statue, from senior monks at Wat Buranasit in Nong Ranya village. She had lunch and carried out a religious ceremony at Wat Pho Chai in Samsung district.

Former Pheu Thai MP Thanik Masipitak said visiting people and making merit during the New Year period was part of Thai culture and the action had no political motive.

"We were strictly monitored by police and military forces. Our New Year calendars were seized. This is an over-reaction and a power-crazed act. They should have differentiated things,'' he said.

National Council for Peace and Order spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree refused to comment on the matter.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Seizure-of-calendars-upsets-Pheu-Thai-30276138.html

-- The Nation 2016-01-05

[halloween]

"He said many ordinary people and juristic bodies were entitled to produce calendars for the New Year and distribute them."

Neatly avoiding that doesn't apply to those produced with taxpayers funds. PTP have always had problems distinguishing between taxpayers funds and their own, even when they're not the government.

[Bluespunk]

"Former Pheu Thai MP Thanik Masipitak said visiting people and making merit during the New Year period was part of Thai culture and the action had no political motive."

Yeah, right...

[Manu75]

This calendar look like campaign poster. Said it was not political motive, seems to be a new lie from PTP

[webfact]

Ex-PM Yingluck’s New Year’s merit-making trip in Khon Kaen marred by military intervention

KHON KAEN: -- Police and military personnel seized calendars featuring former prime ministers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra and stopped Ms Yingluck from taking a car ride with her former Pheu Thai MPs through Ban Pai district of Khon Kaen to meet her supporters and to present them with New Year’s gifts.

Accompanied by her former ministers and northeastern MPs, Ms Yingluck was in Ban Pai district today (Monday) as part of her New Year’s merit-making trail to meet with her supporters.

However, her trip was closely monitored by the police and the military who suspected that the trip might be politically motivated. About 100 policemen and military personnel were deployed at various locations where Ms Yingluck and her entourage planned to stop and to meet the people.

About 100 people showed up to welcome the former prime minister at Wat Buranasit in Tambon Nong Ranya. They mobbed her blue Volkswagen van and presented her with roses when she emerged and tied khaoma loincloth around her waist.

The former prime minister and her team spent about half an hour at the temple before proceeding to have lunch at a noodle shop. Later on, they went for merit making.

Former Pheu Thai MP Thanik Masikpitak criticized the authorities’ seizure of the calendars meant for Ms Yingluck’s supporters and welcoming placards put up by her supporters as an overact and an abuse of authority.

He insisted that the whole trip was about merit making and did not have any hidden political agenda.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ex-pm-yinglucks-new-years-merit-making-trip-in-khon-kaen-marred-by-military-intervention


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-05

[Bluespunk]

"He insisted that the whole trip was about merit making and did not have any hidden political agenda."

He's right, it's not hidden. It's an overt attempt to use an allegedly private act of faith for political purposes.

If you want it to be private then go alone, don't bring along your entourage, carry out your merit making in secret and don't announce the whole event in advance to the press.

Same old PT.

https://www.google.co.th/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0ahUKEwjp14eCm5HKAhXGGo4KHeYIBVIQuAIIETAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fm.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DViSm2i7C_1U&usg=AFQjCNGZ5AXTwgr_4kaftwAUWKRKMShddw

[simon43]

In Khon Kaen, 100 police, military personnel and civil officers set up checkpoints in Ban Pai district and seized more than 10 of the Shinawatra calendars.

Where can I get one of these calendars? They are sure to become collectors' items. Bit like postage stamps that are printed upsidedown and recalled.

[aussieinthailand]

"He insisted that the whole trip was about merit making and did not have any hidden political agenda."

He's right, it's not hidden. It's an overt attempt to use an allegedly private act of faith for political purposes.

If you want it to be private then go alone, don't bring along your entourage, carry out your merit making in secret and don't announce the whole event in advance to the press.

Same old PT.

https://www.google.co.th/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0ahUKEwjp14eCm5HKAhXGGo4KHeYIBVIQuAIIETAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fm.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DViSm2i7C_1U&usg=AFQjCNGZ5AXTwgr_4kaftwAUWKRKMShddw

I have to disagree, New Year merit making is a Thai thing, and as such Yingluk has the right just as any other Thai to do so.

As for announcing her intent for such merit making, that to is not against the law, and many Thai's will announce to family and friends and on social media of their intentions so why not Yingluk? I didn't see any political slogans/posters/or political speeches given so it could be said that this was an over reaction by the powers that be and preventing a person from going about their business. As for confiscating calendar's well as far as I'm a wear that is not illegal also, Did they have any messages of a political nature printed on them??? and lastly if they are saying this was a political stunt, then if there was any more than five people together then why oh why was she not arrested for illegal political gathering???? Talk about clutching at straws man.

[waitforusalso]

Nuff said!

[tbthailand]

However, her trip was closely monitored by the police and the military who suspected that the trip might be politically motivated.

really sharp knives in the drawer, these military types...

[ezzra]

All she had to do was to depict some lovely semi-nude models on the calendar and even the police

would have hung those in their offices... I mean, I'd buy one...

[dbrenn]

Seizure of calendars???

What happened to all this reconciliation?

[englishoak]

In Khon Kaen, 100 police, military personnel and civil officers set up checkpoints in Ban Pai district and seized more than 10 of the Shinawatra calendars.

Where can I get one of these calendars? They are sure to become collectors' items. Bit like postage stamps that are printed upsidedown and recalled.

Already changing hands for thousands of Baht

Methinks yet again they have fluffed things and made her yet again the target of just more petty persecution.....the morons

Ok its a move by PT but one some moron just fell right into............. again.

[TheCruncher]

"He said many ordinary people and juristic bodies were entitled to produce calendars for the New Year and distribute them."

Neatly avoiding that doesn't apply to those produced with taxpayers funds. PTP have always had problems distinguishing between taxpayers funds and their own, even when they're not the government.

How does someone who isn't in the government get access to taxpayers funds to publish a calendar?

[JOC]

"He said many ordinary people and juristic bodies were entitled to produce calendars for the New Year and distribute them."

Neatly avoiding that doesn't apply to those produced with taxpayers funds. PTP have always had problems distinguishing between taxpayers funds and their own, even when they're not the government.

How can a party, who has not been in power for 2 years, use taxpayer money ??

[xtof2]

He said only calendars with pornographic material should be banned.

Isn't it?

[JOC]

"He insisted that the whole trip was about merit making and did not have any hidden political agenda."

He's right, it's not hidden. It's an overt attempt to use an allegedly private act of faith for political purposes.

If you want it to be private then go alone, don't bring along your entourage, carry out your merit making in secret and don't announce the whole event in advance to the press.

Same old PT.

https://www.google.co.th/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0ahUKEwjp14eCm5HKAhXGGo4KHeYIBVIQuAIIETAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fm.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DViSm2i7C_1U&usg=AFQjCNGZ5AXTwgr_4kaftwAUWKRKMShddw

Same old PT.

Yes they outsmarted the army rulers again !! A small trip to Khon Kaen by a little lady in her Volkswagen made an organisation with a budget of 207 billion baht wet their pants............

[oneday]

The governor is just a lackey for the junta. The junta are a bunch of scared little school boys. This is what scared little school children do.

It's censorship at it's worst. Pretty soon anyone publishing books or literature against the junta is going to start going missing.

[JAG]

I doubt whether Pheu Thai are really upset - I expect that they are actually delighted!

Fred Karnos Army and the Keystone Cops have managed to put Yingluck and Pheu-Thai smack bang on the top of the political agenda at New Year!

[TheGhostWithin]

I don't get it.. she isn't a politician she is banned from politics, why are news outlets allowed to still inaccurately refer to her as a politician? Would it be OK if a newspaper referred to a murderer or a thief as innocent even after they had been found guilty?

[LoongJohn]

The political motivation behind issuing such calendars can't be ignored, but it must be admitted that Yingluck is quite a dish. Don't fancy her brother though!

[ubeturazz]

Yingluck looking as beautiful as ever.

[trainman34014]

Caution...''Overgrown Children At Work '' !

[TheKnave]

Seized more than 10 of them!!!

[Bluespunk]

"He insisted that the whole trip was about merit making and did not have any hidden political agenda."

He's right, it's not hidden. It's an overt attempt to use an allegedly private act of faith for political purposes.

If you want it to be private then go alone, don't bring along your entourage, carry out your merit making in secret and don't announce the whole event in advance to the press.

Same old PT.

https://www.google.co.th/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0ahUKEwjp14eCm5HKAhXGGo4KHeYIBVIQuAIIETAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fm.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DViSm2i7C_1U&usg=AFQjCNGZ5AXTwgr_4kaftwAUWKRKMShddw

I have to disagree, New Year merit making is a Thai thing, and as such Yingluk has the right just as any other Thai to do so.

As for announcing her intent for such merit making, that to is not against the law, and many Thai's will announce to family and friends and on social media of their intentions so why not Yingluk? I didn't see any political slogans/posters/or political speeches given so it could be said that this was an over reaction by the powers that be and preventing a person from going about their business. As for confiscating calendar's well as far as I'm a wear that is not illegal also, Did they have any messages of a political nature printed on them??? and lastly if they are saying this was a political stunt, then if there was any more than five people together then why oh why was she not arrested for illegal political gathering???? Talk about clutching at straws man.

It may well be traditional and most of the other things you say but at it's heart this was a cynical exploitation of tradition for political and propaganda purposes.

All politicians do this I agree but it is utter BS for the PT spokesperson to deny it.

He needs new pants because the ones he's been wearing are all burnt up.

As for the calendars, anything promoting a scumbag fugitive criminal should be destroyed.

[simon43]

Interesting to follow the web address at the bottom of the calendars...chitpas.com

[animatic]

Banned from politics means not holding office or overtly campaigning.

Thaksin is on the run and yet is squarely in the pot stirring middle of Thai politics. Yingluck his little sister, and Thaksin on a calendar for a year on peoples walls, and announced with a little pilgrimage by lil sister and her former ministers and entourage with press support;

This is as political as it gets.

They could have made merit quietly and with minimal fuss.

And no calendars for propaganda, which is their sole purpose, and of course why they were confiscated. Everyone knows there will never be reconciliation between Thaksin's puppet parties and the other side, NEVER. But said reconciliation is not for them, but for the average Thai citizen with their fellow citizens, and that only happens when the propaganda that divides them so effectively is ended.

Not just from the PTP side, but from all sides.

But the continual pot stirring is coming from PTP. And they are not in power, and are highly unlikely to be until well after a sad event takes place. This is jockying for positions of control and power for the 'after period', those who control events control the future, and it is a quite deadly struggle gone quiet, but not gone. That one side believes he will come out on top by prophesies from several sources, only makes it quite mad because in reality there are NO see'ers, no actual prophets of the future.

But tell that to the guy who goes to the fortune teller to guide the country while in power.

Edited January 5, 2016 by animatic

[BSJ]

This was obviously done to get a reaction.....which they have got!

[NeverSure]

Yingluck 1, Junta 0.

[LawrenceChee]

She still looks good ....the northern cool air do wonders