Bangkok Pundit

Special FCCT Briefing on Burma

2008-05-09T16:44:00.002+07:00

Via e-mail:

A Press briefing by
Human Rights Watch and the Women’s League of Burma/Shan Women’s League

Politics over Aid

Saturday, May 10 at 10:00 am at the FCCT (special Saturday opening of FCCT)

Members please note: Due to the influx of journalists covering the disaster in Myanmar out of Bangkok, the FCCT will stay open as a special service on Saturday, May 10. There will be our usual full bar and restaurant service, and wireless Internet will be available as usu

Members please note: Due to the influx of journalists covering the disaster in Myanmar out of Bangkok, the FCCT will stay open as a special service on Saturday, May 10. There will be our usual full bar and restaurant service, and wireless Internet will be available as usual.

Cyclone Nargis devastated parts of lower Burma on May 2-3, resulting in the deaths of at least 62,000 people, the government says. More than one million people are now homeless in Irrawaddy, Rangoon and Pegu divisions. Despite the disaster, the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has permitted only very limited supplies of international relief assistance into the country. Numerous aid workers are in Bangkok waiting for visas to get into Burma. Obviously, the Burmese government is trying to block international aid efforts in part to keep foreigners out until the constitutional referendum is over.

Under international law, the million or so people thought to have been made homeless by the cyclone are considered internally displaced. Under the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, a state should not arbitrarily withhold permission for international humanitarian organizations and other appropriate actors to provide aid, “particularly when authorities concerned are unable or unwilling to provide the required humanitarian assistance.” The principles further state that, “All authorities concerned shall grant and facilitate the free passage of humanitarian assistance and grant persons engaged in the provision of such assistance rapid and unimpeded access to the internally displaced.”

The Burmese government has announced plans to continue with its constitutional referendum scheduled for May 10, although it has postponed voting in 47 townships (districts) in southwestern Burma badly affected by the cyclone, including the former capital Rangoon, until May 24. However, Human Rights Watch report, “Vote to Nowhere: The May 2008 Constitutional Referendum in Burma” (http://hrw.org/reports/2008/burma0508/), shows rampant human rights abuses in Burma mean the constitutional referendum would be neither free nor fair. The proposed constitution will only cement continuing military rule.

The speakers will be:

- Sunai Phasuk - Human Rights Watch
- Charm Tong - Women’s League of Burma/Shan Women’s League

Representatives of international agencies have been invited to be present to update the media on the status of relief efforts.

BP: The latest HRW press release is here: Key excerpt:

(New York, May 9, 2008) – The Burmese government should postpone the constitutional referendum scheduled for May 10, 2008 and focus on relieving the horrendous human suffering from Cyclone Nargis, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch urged the Burmese government to stop blocking aid efforts and lift restrictions on international aid agencies so they can respond immediately to help survivors.

Despite the disaster, the military government has announced plans to continue with its constitutional referendum, although it has postponed voting in 47 townships (districts) in southwestern Burma badly affected by the cyclone, including the former capital Rangoon, until May 24.

“The Burmese government is blocking international aid efforts in part to keep foreigners out until the voting is over,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “But those without clean water, food or medical care can’t wait any longer for help – they need it now. It’s time to pull the plug on the referendum and open up to aid workers and their supplies.”

BP: I don't agree with HRW on every subject, but as it was the referendum was a farce and to hold a referendum when the country has just had a severe natural disaster and more than 100,000 are dead is beyond unconscionable.

More links to come later tonight.

Karun in Trouble

2008-05-09T16:05:00.003+07:00

The Nation reports:

People Power Party MP Karun Hosakul has been found guilty of physical and verbal attacks against Democrat MP Sompong Kiartpaibul inside Parliament on April 2, the House fact-finding report said in its conclusion Friday.

MP Vichet Panvichartkul said the report will be forwarded for the House deliberation on punishment.

"The fact-finding panel reached an unanimous decision to conclude that Karun assualted Somkiart and that Karun had used rude langauge," Vichet said.

Karun refused to comment, saying he had not had a chance to study the report.

BP: See my previous posts on the issue here and here. He has publicly said he would resign if the report find him at fault. Give it was unanimous, he has no other option. Will he resign quickly or stay around and be an embarrassment?

Burma Deathtoll to Exceed 100,000

2008-05-08T13:00:00.000+07:00

The Nation:

Burma's military government is under pressure to open its borders to more international help after a devastating cyclone that a US diplomat said may have killed more than 100,000 people.

Washington, a vocal critic of the junta that has ruled Burma for more than four decades, said humanitarian access should not be a political matter.

"What remains is for the Burmese government to allow the international community to help its people. It should be a simple matter. It is not a matter of politics," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters in Washington.

John Holmes, the top UN humanitarian official, urged Burma to waive visa restrictions he said were slowing efforts to bring in relief experts and supplies to help an estimated one million people affected by Cyclone Nargis.

The cyclone, with 190km/h winds, slammed into coastal towns and villages in the rice-growing Irrawaddy delta south-west of Rangoon on Saturday. Witnesses reported villages destroyed and people fighting for survival by clutching trees.

Limited international aid has trickled in and the military junta's own aid operation has moved up a gear with some helicopter drops, but land convoys were nowhere to be seen, a Reuters witness in the delta said.

State radio and television reported a death toll of 22,980 with 42,119 missing and 1,383 injured in the world's most devastating cyclone since 1991.

Holmes said the death toll could rise "very significantly."

Shari Villarosa, charge d'affaires of the US embassy in Burma, said, "The information that we're receiving indicates that there may well be over 100,000 deaths in the delta area."

That figure was not confirmed, but was based on estimates by an international non-governmental organisation that she declined to identify, Villarosa told reporters on a conference call from Rangoon.

She said recent Burma government estimates put the death toll at 70,000, mainly in the delta area.

In one town alone, Bogalay, at least 10,000 people were killed, according to a town-by-town list of casualties and damage announced by the reclusive military government.

Political analysts and critics of 46 years of military rule said the cyclone may have long-term implications for the junta, which is even more feared and resented since September's bloody crackdown on Buddhist monk-led protests.

BP: This is precisely why the Burmese government is so afraid of allowing the "foreigners" in as they are worried about what will happen, but if they deny their own people humanitarian aid they risk sparking protests and further outrage as this other article reports:

To the surprise of some, the ruling junta, which has prided itself in the past on its indifference to international opinion, has had to appeal for disaster relief in order to save its own people and, ironically, to save itself.

"If they don't get enough proper assistance out in the next couple of days or weeks the people will be very angry, and that anger might overcome their fear because they may feel they have nothing to lose," said Win Min, a lecturer on Burma affairs at Chiang Mai University in Thailand.

The article continues:

With the delta virtually cut off and frustration growing among aid agencies and governments, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner suggested invoking a UN "responsibility to protect" clause without waiting for the junta's approval.

Holmes, UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said that would be premature. "We are having useful and constructive discussions with the authorities of Myanmar (Burma)," he told reporters at the United Nations.

"It is moving in the right direction, we want it to move much faster clearly, but I'm not sure it would help at this moment at least to embark on what could at least be seen by some people as a confrontation."

Richard Horsey of the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in Bangkok that 5,000 square kilometres of the delta were under water.

"With all those dead mostly floating in the water at this point you can get some idea of the conditions facing the teams on the ground. It's a major logistical challenge," he said.

Storm surges hit when people were sleeping "and just inundated them, or swept them out to sea," Villarosa said. "The government officials told us 95 per cent of the buildings in the delta area are gone or have collapsed."

Thailand, China, India and Indonesia were flying in relief supplies and the UN World Food Program said it had sent four planes with aid that were expected to arrive on Friday.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Burma do more to facilitate international aid.

Holmes said four Asian UN officials had been cleared to go as part of an initial assessment team but up to 100 UN staff were still waiting. He said they had not been refused visas, but the process was taking too long.

Twenty-four countries had pledged $US30 million ($A31.6 million) and more aid offers were expected after the UN sets out its priorities and target for aid in a flash appeal on Friday.

Australia will provide an initial $A3 million emergency assistance, bypassing Burma's military rulers to provide the funds directly to the United Nations and aid agencies.

The UN emergency relief will contribute at least $US10 million ($A10.5 million).

At Rangoon airport, a Reuters photographer on a Thai military plane said two Indian planes and one Chinese transport plane with tents and construction materials had also landed.

The United Nations recognised in 2005 the "responsibility to protect" civilians when their governments could or would not do it, even if this meant violating national sovereignty.

France's UN ambassador, Jean-Maurice Ripert, asked the Security Council to take a stand on the crisis by calling for a humanitarian briefing and issuing a statement.

Diplomats said China, Russia, Vietnam and South Africa were opposed, arguing it has nothing to do with peace and security.

BP: Politics at the UNSC as expected!

btw, the Thai media as reported in this Thai language post (from Kom Chad Luek, Daily News and Matichon) refer to Thailand sending 20 tonnes of food aid via a C-130. They have also sent 30 tonnes of medical aid and 12 tonnes of food aid. Someone from the Public Health Ministry warns of disease and they have medical teams on standby. CP Foods say they will provide about 10 million baht of (food) aid. PTT Thailand is donating US$500,000 and other equipment totaling US$1 million.

Pravit vs The Thai Media

2008-05-08T05:27:00.000+07:00

Pravit:

What's more, media associations appear to be too fixated on Samak and Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted premier. It is no secret that the majority of mainstream newspapers are out-and-out anti Thaksin - and now increasingly Samak - too.

But there are other issues that the media associations should have given more time and attention to.
..
Just one day after the statement criticising Samak was made, two well-respected academics, Chaiwat Satha-anand of Thammasat University, an expert on peace and conflict resolution, and Ubonrat Siriyuwak, a media expert from Chulalongkorn University, came up with their own statement.

The duo criticised media professionals and organisations for "inciting [political] hatred", engaging in "propaganda" to discredit their political opponents "through all means and tricks".
..
The media war against Thaksin is long and protracted. Apparently, the industry has taken sides so completely that it has lost sight of its role as provider of not just information but fair debate from different camps and perspectives.

BP: I wonder if Sopon, Yoon, Tulsie and Thanong are reading.

Democrats Get Smart

2008-05-07T23:32:00.003+07:00

Last month, I blogged:

btw, I think that one of the provisions that should be amended is Section 291 to require a referendum to amend provisions of the Constitution.

BP: I was going to mention it is surprising that no one was first calling to amend this provision first well Abhisit makes the a good call as the Bangkok Post reports:

The opposition Democrat party says it will push for the amendment of a single article of the constitution that would allow members of the public to take part in the government's attempt to amend the charter.
...
Democrat and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday his party would propose a draft amendment to change Article 291 of the 2007 constitution.

The move follows the earlier action of a group of senators, who also proposed a change to Article 291 to allow the public to participate in the charter rewrite.

The proposal would enable outsiders to have an input, instead of the process of change being monopolised by political parties, Mr Abhisit said. Article 291 makes the job of amending the constitution the business of only the government and the parliament.

''I hope that people will not surround the parliament if the government starts to welcome the idea of a participatory amendment and lets the constitutional amendment be a truly public process.

''A crisis can be averted. Present conflicts are being caused by the government,'' Mr Abhisit said.

BP: This is a good stalling provision. I see at as a coherent procedural argument as it actually directly addresses Section 291.* I think it would be politically difficult to be against amending Section 291. I mean what are you going to say, that you are against changing the law allowing for voters to directly vote on the constitution.

PPP would probably be better advised to follow Suthin's proposal and say they will have a referendum anyway after the second reading and include amending Section 291 in the amendments to be submitted to parliament. I wonder how the critics will respond if there will be a referendum. All their arguments about the need for direct democracy suddenly go out the window.

* The counter argument could be if politicians can then amend this one provision why not Section 237 and Section 309 at the same time.

Constitution Drafting Assembly = Public Participation?

2008-05-07T14:00:00.000+07:00

The Bangkok Post:

Pediatrician Juree Ningsanon said that by forcing through an early amendment the government would only cause different groups of people to clash.

If it insisted on the amendment, it should let the public participate in the process through the establishment of another constitution drafting assembly, she suggested.

BP: How do people participate in the process then? Do they vote for the drafters? I think the government needs to engage in some consultation before the amendments are formally approved (in the third reading), but the current process doesn't mean people do not have any level of interaction or involvement. It means, as the Constitution says, that politicians have the final say. People can participate by commenting on it, praising it, or criticising it. For this to happen, they need sufficient time before the finalised version and the final vote as well.

btw, I have another post in the works. Parliament goes into recess on May 19 so PPP will need to have a vote (as in the first reading) on the constitution before then.

Comparisons Abound

2008-05-07T10:30:00.002+07:00

Business Wire:

From Q108 we will be calculating the Commercial Banking Business Environment Rating (CBBER) for each of the countries surveyed by BMI. This will permit a more systematic and comprehensive comparison of the conditions within the banking industries of the various countries than was possible in the past. For each country, it will also facilitate a comparison of the conditions within the banking sector and conditions prevailing in other sectors.

Thailand’s overall CBBER is 58.5. Thailand has a fairly typical CBBER for a country in the Asia Pacific region, comparable to the figures achieved by India, Indonesia, and Pakistan. However, Thailand’s CBBER is lacklustre in comparison to Hong Kong’s impressive score of 79. Meanwhile, it is placed well above Sri Lanka’s of 28.4, the lowest in the region.

BP: I am sure Thailand would aspire to be at the same level of Malaysia, which is at 67.5, but instead it is lumped together with India, Indonesia, and Pakistan. This just shows you that there are certain problems in the banking sector of the economy.

btw, Indonesia is at 58.1 and India 58.6%.

Blog Redesign

2008-05-07T07:03:00.002+07:00

UPDATE: See below

The new redesign is up here. Please check it out and tell me (by way of a comment or an email) if there are any problems. I'll probably change this design over the weekend if there are no major problems. I still have some tinkering to do with the Amazon ads.* I don't like too many visual distractions when reading - cough Bangkok Post cough - so I'll try to make them blend in more and remove some of the images.

The righthand sidebar tabview of Recent Comments/Newslinks/Twitter has been tested in a few browsers, but I would be interested to know if anyone comes across any problems. If your internet connection is slow, you will need to wait about 5-10 seconds between toggling between Recent Comments/Newslinks/Twitter.

A blogroll will be added and recent and popular posts once I move over.

UPDATE: The theme/template is based on this one. I will add top navigation links like "About This Blog", "Contact BP" and others like FAQ later. I just want to make sure it doesn't crash anyone's browser or look completely unusual. I have tested it in Firefox, IE 6 and IE 7 which make up the vast majority of users.

*I initially never wanted any ads, but I have brought half a dozen books on Thai politics/violence in the South from my Google adsense revenue so basically any money I "earn" goes back into the site through book and magazine purchases. Later, I will arrange for someone in Bangkok to buy a scanner.

Burma Cyclone Update

2008-05-07T04:34:00.001+07:00

In an update to my post below, this Reuters article looks at a number of questions I raised:

Myanmar's military government yesterday defended its handling of the relief effort after a devastating cyclone swept across the south of the country, while foreign aid workers waited anxiously in Bangkok, Thailand, for clearance to launch a major relief effort.

In a rare press conference, information minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan defended the military's crisis response, saying the government was "doing its best" to help the victims, and reiterated the desire for international assistance to cope with the crisis.

"The task is very wide and extensive, and the government needs the cooperation of the people and well-wishers from at home and abroad," the minister told a news conference in the capital, Yangon, three days after tropical cyclone Nargis slammed into the country.

Shortly after his press conference, state television reported that the death toll from the disaster had soared to over 22,000, with another 40,000 people missing.

UN humanitarian officials now estimate that one million survivors are in urgent need of relief supplies, especially in the low-lying delta of the Irrawaddy River, which was swamped by a massive storm surge, and much of which may remain submerged.

Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, has been without power since the storm, and the authorities admit that repairing the electricity grid will be a huge, time-consuming job, while the prices of food and other essentials in the city are reported to be sky-rocketing.

The military government has received offers of a wide range of assistance, from emergency relief materials to much-needed logistical help to reach some of the remote, now isolated regions. However, the military rulers have yet to open the country's doors to this assistance.

On Tuesday US President George Bush even offered to send American naval forces to help in search-and-rescue and relief operations. US officials said the US had two naval ships conducting disaster response exercises, loaded with fresh drinking water and temporary shelters, two days' sailing from the disaster area.

"We're prepared to help move US Navy assets to help find those who have lost their lives, to help find the missing, and to help stabilise the situation," Bush said. "Let the US come and help you help the people."

In Bangkok, UN officials were waiting anxiously for visas so they could begin a potentially massive relief operation. "The OCHA [Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] team has assembled in Bangkok and is ready to deploy as soon as possible," said Richard Horsey, a spokesman for the OCHA. "We are waiting for the green light on visas."

So far, shipments of emergency relief supplies from India, Thailand and other Asian countries have been sent, and the local Red Cross has also been distributing materials they had stockpiled in the country. Major donors have made multimillion-dollar funding pledges and some non-governmental organisations have launched appeals for cash.

Horsey said that, given the lack of transportation, aid agencies were struggling to get supplies into the remote areas where they were needed. The military has made some helicopters and boats available to carry supplies to remote areas, but it appears that far more will be needed.

"The major bottleneck will be the local delivery, rather than getting stuff in to the Rangoon [former name of Yangon] airport," Horsey said. "We need distribution channels."

Analysts say Myanmar's generals are unlikely to follow the example of Indonesia and other countries hit by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, which allowed US military forces and their equipment to help in the wake of the disaster.

Sean Turnell, an economics professor at Australia's Macquarie University, said he believed the military was still anxious about throwing open their doors to an onslaught of foreign aid workers. "The regime worries that events could move out of their control if they let in Western aid groups."

BP: But if it doesn't let the western aid groups or the US military in, who will it let in because it can't handle the situation on its own?

btw, what is China thinking? Too worried about the Olympics and Tibet?

A Referendum on the Amendments?

2008-05-07T01:00:00.000+07:00

The Bangkok Post reports (cache):

''Our push for the charter amendments did not begin just recently,'' Sutin Klangsang, deputy spokesman of the ruling People Power party, said. In fact, it was the party's main election policy platform, suggesting that the outcome of the general election would decide whether the constitution should be revised, he said.

''We also made a public commitment that we would use the 1997 charter as a model for the charter changes. And in our policy statement to parliament, we pledged a charter review.

''We are doing just what we promised to undertake.''

Mr Sutin said his party had full faith in the 1997 charter ''as it has a soul'' and would connect better with the people.

''Even though it was seen as good, 10 years after it was promulgated the parties involved perceived the need to amend the 1997 charter.
...
''Back then we suggested that the 1997 charter be revised, but we never got the chance to see it through.''

The coup led to the formation of the Constitution Drafting Assembly and the writing of the the 2007 charter.

A constitution's acceptance depends on its legitimacy, content and the atmosphere in which it was drafted.

The 2007 charter was ''not so legitimate'' since much of its content was disputed, he said.

Moreover, the country was under the control of the military when the charter was drafted and put to a national referendum. A public referendum should be held in an atmosphere in which people are free to make decisions.

''Why so early? The 2007 constitution has posed a number of problems.

''Firstly, MPs are troubled by an article which they see as obstructing their work.

''The article in question (Article 266) prohibits MPs and senators from using their positions to interfere in the operations of government agencies.

''The charter writers may not have intentionally restricted MPs, but the article somehow intimidates MPs, putting them in a position where they feel as if their hands are tied.

''Right now, when people are unfairly treated by police, we dare not interfere.

''Secondly, we admit that our bid for wholesale charter changes is partly inspired by the party dissolution rules.

''What is happening these days is that the Thai public and the international community are questioning the country's political stability.

''At the end of the day, the PPP may not be dissolved, but what we currently see is shrinking confidence in the country's political stability.

''They have even started asking how long the government will stay in power and with whom they should discuss the kingdom's economic problems.

''Concern is also growing about whether the public will shy away from engaging in political activities and developing political parties.

''If the ruling party is disbanded, we believe it will lead to political turmoil.''

Thirdly, he said, there is no guarantee the PPP-led government will be in power long enough to push through the changes.

Amid this sense of insecurity, the government could collapse in its first, second or third year in office.

Mr Sutin said this sense of insecurity would be passed on to the next government or the next parliament.

''There is a high risk involved, but it will never be free of risks, whether we do it now or later.

''Are the amendments self-serving? It is hard to say since the amendments could bring a premature end for us as well,'' he said.

''We might be able to survive longer by not pushing for the changes and allow the party dissolution trial to proceed. We can't say for sure if the charter changes will benefit us.

''We are pushing for the amendments because we cannot afford to let this sense of insecurity haunt the next government as well.

''We are not saying the amendments have nothing to do with the party's possible dissolution.

''But it is not the only reason why the changes are being demanded.''

As a matter of fact, he said, the 2007 charter is not that bad. But it has a weak point.

''It is derived from a dictatorship. This is why we plan to draft a new one. If initiated by the people, it would be more sacred and acceptable,'' he said.

On the argument that the 2007 constitution is legitimate because it was approved by a national referendum, considered as participatory democracy, he said the party was trying to combine participatory democracy with representative democracy.

''We would like to propose that the charter amendment process be started by MPs,'' he said.

After the draft amendment is debated in parliament and clears its first and second readings, it will be put to another national referendum.

''If it is rejected by the people, the parliament will not accept it in the third reading.

''This is better than the proposed establishment of a constitution drafting assembly. I will propose this.

''A referendum is a good thing and it is needed to ensure the amendments are truly acceptable,'' he said.

BP: So referendum and new elections? This seems like his personal view, but I am coming to the view that the referendum is an option that should be seriously considered simply as the elite are mobilising personnel to pushback on the referendum. Thirayuth:

"If the government still insists on amending the charter to clean up its wrongdoings and save its people from [corruption] cases, that will be the beginning of a second crisis," Mr Thirayuth said. The first crisis he was referring to were the rallies against then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra that were confronted by his supporters, and which culminated in the military coup that drove him from office in 2006.

The Thammasat University academic said that with the push for a new constitution, the country was heading for a rift in society between those who support and those who oppose amending the charter.

From a conference:

The People Power party and its coalition partners should delay their plan to amend the 2007 constitution and allow the country's highest law to take its course so that people could see its positive and negative effects on the country, it was suggested at a forum yesterday. The proposal was made by speakers at the forum organised by the National Economic and Social Advisory Council (Nesac) to debate the issue.

Panellists joining the debate said they believed the PPP really wanted to amend the constitution to save itself and two other coalition partners _ Chart Thai, and Matchimathipataya _ from being dissolved for electoral fraud.

They also said the amendment move was aimed at interfering with judicial power and the selection process of members of some independent public organisations to whitewash former premier Thaksin Shinawatra of graft charges.

A group of senior doctors - who statements have been given widespread coverage in the TV media:

A group of senior doctors is moving to pre-empt a looming political crisis brought about by the government's insistence on wholesale changes to the 2007 constitution.

The physicians will today release a statement advising the government and parties concerned on the planned constitution amendments.

The group is spearheaded by Banlu Siripanich, Prof Aree Walyasewi, Pairoj Ningsanont, and Vithoon Ungprapan.

The National Health Foundation has been selected as a venue for releasing the statement.

On the eve of the planned statement yesterday, NHF secretary-general Somsak Chunharas slammed the government for its proposal to revise the charter.

In his statement ''Ensuring Sustainability for the Nation, not for Cronies'', Dr Somsak said it's a shame the government is only concerned about amending the charter and not doing anything to develop and promote the policies from which the nation truly stands to benefit.

He said the planned amendments, if as far reaching as desired, would only reduce the accountability of politicians and the political parties.

''The government is determined to make itself and its own people, instead of the country, sustainable.

''It is fully focusing its resources and efforts on the amendments which appear to make political parties immune to punishment, no matter how unscrupulous their actions are,'' read the statement.

Former coup drafters:

Vicha Mahakun, deputy president of the Constitution Drafting Committee and member of the National Counter Corruption Commission, brushed aside doubts about the legitimacy of the 2007 charter. ''Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's charge that the charter is written to get rid of his [People Power] party is not true,'' he said.

Modern political science gives emphasis to participatory democracy in addition to representative democracy.

''His Majesty the King states in the charter that he has endorsed the constitution in accordance with the outcome of the public referendum. So the 2007 charter is the first under participatory democracy.

''The People Power party's attempt to change the constitution is meeting with strong opposition because it runs against the public's wishes.''

Mr Vicha said it is not difficult to seek a revision of the constitution, which stipulates 50,000 people can sign and file a petition for constitutional amendment.

''But does the PPP ask the public or academics? Even though voters were required to vote 'yes' or 'no' in the referendum, each of the articles was widely debated during public hearings.

''Public hearings were organised in each of the regions on the flaws in the 1997 constitution.

Independent public agencies were also asked to provide input.

''We did not force them or coerce them to accept what we drafted. We talked to them and asked for their reasons, why they disagreed with our proposals.
...
''I do not argue that the PPP has a public commitment to revise the constitution. But as a representative, does it have the legitimacy to change what has undergone a direct democratic process like a referendum?

''Can the PPP show proof that those who voted for the constitution simply wanted elections so that their MPs would amend the charter later?'' he said.

BP: Didn't the PPP campaign on amending the constitution and then voters voted for PPP? Didn't they public choose to endorse a constitution which enabled politicians on their own to amend it? You can't say the constitution is what the people wanted or comes from the people and then deny the government has the power to amend the constitution in accordance with Section 291.

The constitution specifically provides that politicians amend the constitution. A referendum can carry moral weight although it is legally meaningless. A referendum would not stop criticism of the amendments, but it would overcome some of the current criticisms. PPP can always fall back on the argument, let the people decide. PPP, unless they make a meal of the amendment, will almost certainly be able to win a referendum

Official Burma Deathtoll Reaches 22,000

2008-05-06T19:30:00.004+07:00

The Bangkok Post reports:

Official state media said on Tuesday the death toll from Saturday's Cyclone Nargis now stands at 22,000 - with another 41,000 missing.

The BBC, quoting state media reports, said international aid agencies are pushing to launch a massive operation in the worst-affected areas of the country.

Hundreds of thousands of people are said to be without clean water and shelter, with some areas still cut off.

Official state media said on Tuesday the death toll from Saturday's Cyclone Nargis now stands at 22,000 - with another 41,000 missing.

The BBC, quoting state media reports, said international aid agencies are pushing to launch a massive operation in the worst-affected areas of the country.

Hundreds of thousands of people are said to be without clean water and shelter, with some areas still cut off.

BP: It was 351 then 4,000, then 10,000. Now, even state media are reporting 22,000 dead and 41,000 missing. By the time this is all over, a deathtoll of over 100,000 is not improbable. The Burmese government can't handle the situation on their own. This requires tsunami-like assistance and the most likely state actor capable of providing this would be the US military. Given Burmese government paranoia and propaganda against the US and other "evil" western powers, will they accept international aid? What would that signal to the local population? Wouldn't it just confirm how incapable the government is if you see hundreds of white faces distributing the aid or aid labeled US military/government?

What kind of aid and logistics assistance will the Thai, Chinese and Indian governments provide? Will these countries be looking at, or at least in diplomatic cables point out to the government the natural resource benefits that might come with assistance?

btw, sorry if anyone finds looking at the political questions crass, but this is a political blog and so I examine political questions. Yes, my sympathies are with the victims.

btw, I read earlier today, the EU is donating 2 million Euros. The Thai government had upped their financial assistance to USD 100,000 although this was before the current numbers were released.

Much more later.

BP: Jotman and Rule of Lords both have excellent coverage with links to many others and lots of commentary.

Death Toll Could Reach 10,000

2008-05-05T21:15:00.002+07:00

AP reports:

Myanmar's foreign minister says the death toll from Tropical Cyclone Nargis could reach 10,000.

Foreign diplomats said Nyan Win made the comment at a Monday briefing given to them and representatives of U.N. and international aid agencies.

Earlier, state radio reported that the official death toll from Saturday's cyclone had risen to nearly 4,000 with 3,000 others missing.

The diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was held behind closed doors, said the foreign minister acknowledged 59 deaths in Yangon, the country's biggest city.

BP: There was talk of 300 earlier in the day. The scale of disaster is a completely different level when numbers of 10,000 are bandied around by the Burmese government.

Chotisak Lese Majeste and Manager Rhetoric

2008-05-05T16:23:00.004+07:00

I have previously blogged about the lese majeste charges against Chotisak for not standing for the royal anthem here and The Manager's extreme rhetoric against Chotisak here and now I see Giles has some comments published at New Mandala on the issue:

Once again we are seeing the extreme Right in Thailand using lèse majesté as an excuse to encourage acts of violence against those who stand up for freedom and justice. Thirty years ago, agitation by the extreme Right, through such media outlets as the Tank Corps radio station and Dao Sayam newspaper, resulted in the upmost barbarism at Thammasart University on the 6th October 1976. Therefore the recent swearing of an oath of allegiance to “Nation Religion and King” by the so-called Peoples Alliance for Democracy at Thammasart, is tantamount to spitting on the memories of those who died and suffered in the bloody events of the 6th October.

Most recently we see The Manager, the media outlet of big businessman Sonti Limtongkul, opening its web-pages to Right-Wing thugs who want to encourage violence against Chotisak Onsoong because he chose to think differently and not stand for the King’s song in the cinema. Following this there have been threats of violence, also posted on The Manager website, against Jittra Kotchadej, Chairwoman of the Triumph textile workers union. Her supposed “crime” was to wear a T-shirt supporting Chotisak’s freedom of expression. In both cases, their addresses have been published by The Manager. The actions by The Manager are not only illegal in that they encourage violence against others, but they are also a serious obstacle to basic rights and democracy.

BP: I should note that the urban middle class treat the rural poor with contempt and often state that they have been tricked into believing government propaganda. Meanwhile, the main consumers of The Manager's (and associated Manager Group publication/radio program/and TV station) rants are the same urban middle class.

Prachatai also have an article on a recent seminar at Thammasat:

On May 2, a public forum was held at Thammasat University to address the controversial issue of the refusal of Chotisak Onsoong and his girlfriend to stand for the royal anthem. The panelists included social critic Sulak Sivarak, historian Suthachai Yimprasert, and reporter Pravit Rojanapreuk, with Thammasat lecturer Kasem Penpinan as the moderator.

The organizers, including the Santi Pracha Dharma Institute and Fah Diew Kan (Same Sky) magazine, started the forum with an audio clip recorded from a radio programme ‘Metro Life’ which belongs to the Manager Group, the driving force of the anti-Thaksin, royalist People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD). The radio programme was broadcast on the night of April 30 at FM 97.75, or Manager Radio, during which the hosts incited listeners to come to the forum to attack Chotisak and disrupt the event.

BP: If anyone managed to download the audio files please post a working link in the comments.

The organizers therefore informed participants that Chotisak would not join the panel at the forum for safety reasons.

Suthachai Yimprasert, history lecturer from Chulalongkorn University, said that in the old days in Thailand, the way to pay respect to the king was to prostrate oneself on the ground, and to stand before the king was considered rebellious. Not until the reign of King Rama V with the influence of western traditions were nobles allowed to sit on chairs or stand, and prostration then seemed old-fashioned. So to stand to pay respect to the king is a new idea.

The royal anthem was first introduced in the reign of King Rama V, around 1887, with shorter lyrics than that of the current version. The anthem was played at specific royal occasions such as the arrival and departure of the king. So the royal anthem was exclusively used for royal activities, and had nothing to do with commoners, as in the Absolute Monarchy commoners were far apart from the monarchy.

After the popular uprising on Oct 14, 1973, anxiety grew over the communist threat to the monarchy, so the Thai elite forced loyalty from the people. During the dictatorial Thanin Kraivixien administration, 1976-77, the royal anthem, which was previously played after a film, was shifted to before to avoid people rushing out of the cinema once the movie finished.

Suthachai said that the Chotisak case had become a political tool for slandering the government, and it was ridiculous because Chotisak has nothing to do with the government. The Manager Group became the equivalent of the Dao Siam newspaper which was instrumental in exacerbating the situation resulting in the massacre at Thammasat on Oct 6, 1976. And the Democrat Party was also becoming an equivalent of Samak Sundaravej’s old party, Prachakorn Thai, as it adopted the same right-wing stance to attack Samak and Thaksin for disloyalty.

BP: Going full circle?

It was scary that Manager columnists equated the act of not standing with a plot to establish a republican Thailand, said Suthachai.

With the recent example of the Nepalese monarchy, the ‘ultra-royalists’ are panicked about the security of the monarchy. Suthachai said it was similar to 1975 when the Lao monarchy was overthrown. The ultra-royalists believe that Thailand is unique for its monarchy. A republic threatens not only the monarchy, but also the virtue and uniqueness of Thai society.

Instead of attacking the government for its mismanagement or bad policies, an approach which would have served the interests of the people, the Manager and the PAD chose this ultra-rightist approach of political slander, exploiting cases of Chotisak and Charnvit, who was alleged to have defamed the Privy Council President, to score points.

BP: We could add the Democrats to that list given it was the Democrats who publicised Charnvist's name and have been calling for his views to be monitored.

Suthachai believed that they wished this could eventually lead to another coup.
...
Pravit Rojanapruek, reporter from the Nation, said that he was not there representing the Nation newspaper. He said the Chotisak case emerged while the monarchy was being exploited for political gain by the PAD and the Manager media.

The Manager media outlets including its newspaper, website, radio and ASTV tried to mischievously link Chotisak to the pro-Thaksin anti-coup Nor Por Kor, and incite its audience to attack Chotisak.

BP: I think we know where the likes of Sopon at The Nation sit on this issue.

What had happened during the past week showed the difficulty or even the failure of Thai society in discussing the monarchy. Most Thai mainstream media, including the Nation, chose to censor themselves on this topic, and they turned a blind eye to the PAD’s attempt to call for suppression.

The hatred and vengeful feelings that had been aroused among the people towards Chotisak showed the dark side of the Thai patronage system. Many comments on web-boards condemned Chotisak as un-Thai, and called for him to be banished to another country. And many dehumanized Chotisak as an animal that should be beaten.

Pravit said that reminded him of the Oct 6 massacre in 1976 or the witch-hunts in medieval Europe.

Sulak Sivarak said that besides the Manager Group, The Nation was also bad, but its editor-director Sutthichai Yun had just received the Sri Burapa Award. The late Sri Burapa was the last Thai journalist who upheld human rights and democracy, and stood for the poor, but Sutthichai had none of these attributes. And neither did the Matichon newspaper whose owner Kanchai Bunpan had forbidden news reports on Sulak.

Sulak, who was twice prosecuted for lèse majesté offences, said that in order to survive, the monarchy needs to be open, transparent and accountable, like other institutions, including the media. The monarch needs to be a human being like all people, a virtual god but not a god.

Thai people are suppressed with fear about the monarchy. On the contrary, the monarchy will thrive on criticism, he said.

The monarchy has been exploited to destroy enemies and suppress different opinions. Even the Rector of Thammasat University Suraphol Nitikraipoj ordered the closure of the room to prevent this forum. According to the Rector, Thai democracy has grown under royal patronage, Sulak said.

The monarchy needs to be kept to serve the interests of the people, not the other way around, said Sulak.

BP: I can't imagine what The Manager thinks of such subversiveness .

Prachatai's more extensive Thai language report is here.

btw, if this had been an anti-Thaksin seminar would it have been on the frontpage of the Post or The Nation? Also, I would be interested if the organisers tried to invited someone who was arguing for the lese majeste law/status quo because such seminars lose some of their value when all of the participants are ideologically similar.

Involving the British Again

2008-05-05T15:16:00.002+07:00

The Nation reports:

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said Monday that he would seek help from the British embassy in Bangkok to verify reports that leaflets had been distributing in England, attacking Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda.

He said if it was found out who were behind the leaflet distribution, the government would have the action ended.

BP: Is Noppadol insane? I realise he is prattling on for a segment of the domestic audience, but who is calling for the British to get involved? If it is someone in England, what is the government going to do?

btw, the last the Thais involved the British was so successful, right?

Cyclone in Burma UPDATE

2008-05-05T15:09:00.003+07:00

UPDATE See below

The Bangkok Post:

According to Ambassador Bansarn Bunnag, the cyclone wreaked severe damage in Rangoon where the Thai embassy is located. The military dictators have renamed the town Yangon.

Telecommunications, transport and other utilities were virtually out of service, resulting in the shutdown of the international airport, the ambassador said.

As of late Sunday, Thai Airways International was still unable to operate flights to Rangoon as a result of infrastructure damage as well as weather conditions, he said.

The Thai embassy has set up an emergency service and sent out teams to visit Thai nationals who either work or happened to be visiting the country.

Over 100 Thai tourists were stranded in various hotels, but all are reported to be safe.

The Bangkok Post:

Burma's largest city was without electricity and water Monday in the wake of category-three Cyclone Nargis, which killed at least 351 people and caused untold damage to the fragile infrastructure and food supply.

State-controlled media reports said Nargis blew off the Bay of Bengal late Friday night packing winds of up to 200 kilometres per hour. It killed 19 people in Rangoon, including 11 women, 109 on the island of Hai Gyi, and 223 in the coastal Irrawaddy Division.

Rangoon, the former capital and the country's commercial hub, was among the places hardest hit by the storm that uprooted trees, toppled electricity and telephone poles and burst water pipes. On Monday, the city of several million was without basic utilities.

The devastation has raised questions about whether the government will pursue its plan to hold a referendum on May 10, to vote on a new constitution that promises to cement the military's future role in politics.

"Rangoon, a city of several million people is without electricity and without water, so I don't see how you can conduct a referendum under those conditions," said one Rangoon-based western diplomat. "I think it is fair to say there is a high probability the referendum might be postponed."

The Irrawaddy Division (region), the Burmese rice bowl, was also hard hit by Nargis, although details remain sketchy.

The third most populous city of Pathein, the capital of the Irrawaddy, was reportedly inundated by floodwaters causing untold damage and deaths.

The fertile, low-lying Irrawaddy Division is also the chief rice growing area. Damage to the Irrawaddy's irrigation systems and crops was still unreported by state television, which is tightly monitored in this military-run country.

"The rice was high. This will certainly effect the rice crop negatively," said a western diplomat.

Observers in Rangoon said it could take weeks for the government to restore electricity in Rangoon, given the number of poles that had been toppled.

Prices on petrol, bottled water, and food had already jumped drastically in Rangoon by Monday.

A bottle of water was selling for 1,000 kyat, compared with 350 kyats last week, while the minimum bus fare had jumped from 50 kyats to 500 kyats in the city, a Rangoon resident said.

Last week's blackmarket rate for the kyat was 1,120 to the dollar.

Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein appeared in Rangoon on Sunday, to pass out food and supplies to victims of the cyclone, but much of the cleanup work has been done by the people themselves.

"The military cleared the trees from the main roads but we had to do it ourselves here," said a resident of Yankin township, a Rangoon suburb.

It remains to be seen whether the government will launch an appeal for international humanitarian aid.

"International expertise in dealing with natural disasters is urgently required. The military regime is ill-prepared to deal with the aftermath of the cyclone," said Naing Aung, secretary general of the Thailand-based Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB).

BP: 1. Will Thailand offer any assistance to Burma? (UPDATE: I have now hard Noppadol say they will give USD50,000) 2. Will the referendum be delayed? That people have no food or water is surely not a great enough impediment for the Burmese government to to be concerned about? 3. What will this do to the rice price?

Party of Free Speech Part Deux

2008-05-05T08:20:00.000+07:00

While the government is being criticised for intimidating the media and its critics, the Democrats are continuing to threaten to sue all and sundry as The Nation reports:

The Democrat Party yesterday threatened to sue activist Chanwit Jariayanukul for defamation after he accused it of being complaisant about the 2006 coup.

"The Democrats have an unwavering stand on democracy with the King as head of state, and do not condone any coups, past or future," party spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon said.

The party would study Chanwit's statement made on Saturday in full to determine whether it was libellous and take legal action if necessary, he said.

Chanwit made the remark about the Democrats during a press conference to deny he was behind the leaflets attacking Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda.

Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai had brought up the issue and Chanwit blam ed Chuan for trying to link him to the underground leaflets.

BP: I guess it depends how you define "condone".

Kavi on the South

2008-05-05T07:43:00.000+07:00

Kavi in The Nation:

The present situation in southern Thailand resembles what occurred in territories once controlled by Indonesia. Before the current autonomous administrative region in Aceh was created and before East Timor became an independent state, arbitrary arrests of suspected insurgents and harming them "with extreme prejudice" during interrogations was common in these areas.

As the situation on the ground deteriorated, affected civilians in conflict areas were given weapons and ammunitions to protect themselves and their communities. Subsequently, armed civilians became a problem, as it was difficult to control their actions and ensure that they used their arms lawfully and in good faith.

With growing abuses and violations of human rights, pressure from the international community, including Western countries and UN-related agencies, augmented and attracted all kinds of involvement from third parties wanting to assist in the peace process.

Interviews with officials stationed in the three provinces, including senior military officials familiar with the thinking of the Thai Army under Chief Anupong Paochinda's leadership, show a marked shift in strategies in managing the conflict zones, psychological warfare, intelligence-gathering and rules of engagement.

They realise that the Army's responses to the growing violence could eventually end up harming them and their security if they are not done "according to the rule of law" and in "a just way". They also understand well that without the support of local communities, every policy and action by the Army would be in vain.

For instance, one of the biggest problems facing the security forces is the high level of physical abuse when suspected insurgents and local residents are interrogated. The death of Imam Yapa Koseng, a 56-year-old Muslim religious leader arrested by the Army in March, is a good case in point. His body was badly bruised and burnt and his ribs were broken. As far as Anupong was concerned, it was the biggest public-relations disaster of his career.

When he rushed to visit the South after Yapa's death, he told Fourth Army Region staffers that the perpetrators would be seriously punished. A special committee, which was set up in March, will soon wrap up the investigation. A senior Army official who has knowledge of the ongoing investigation said that superiors responsible for those found guilty would be reprimanded as well.

The handling of Yapa's case will serve as a litmus test for determining whether the rule of law has been strictly observed in translating verbal commitments into actions by Thai security forces under Anupong's command. If he fails to deliver justice to Yapa's family and relatives as well as hundreds of similar victims, his long-term counter-insurgency activities in the South will be rendered fruitless. His dreams of seeing normalcy restored in the three provinces by the end of next year will remain elusive. Anupong and senior staffers are aware that their actions are being closely scrutinised by UN agencies and various international human-rights organisations concerned with ill-treatment and torture. Last year the Surayud government surprisingly ratified the UN Convention against Torture. The Army supported the move as it believed that doing so would help to boost the country's image and serve as a shield against outside criticism. They know they have to balance security concerns and the protection human rights. However, security forces in conflict zones have yet to understand the convention and follow through on it.

According to Anupong's aides, the absence of the rule of law and rights abuses in Aceh and East Timor among Indonesian security forces was pivotal in worsening the security situation there. They reiterated that Thai security forces, totalling a little over 60,000 troops, operating in the three provinces must not repeat such mistakes. Whenever a case of abuse occurs, it must be documented and backed up by evidence and eyewitnesses. The case must go through the due process of the law and justice must be done.

Obviously, for the Thai Army leaders, the emphasis on rule of law and justice is aimed at mitigating any future possible involvement of international players -formally or informally - in domestic conflict. They are not willing to engage a third party. The effectiveness of this approach will be evident sooner than later.

Unlike his predecessors, Anupong has so far avoided supporting official dialogue and negotiations with the militants operating in the three provinces. Any contact with the representatives of insurgents must be approved by the government, Army or the National Security Council. In the past three years, informal contact was made and dialogues were held through international mediators but without any tangible progress.

Another noticeable difference is in rhetoric. The word "samarn-chan" or "reconciliation", which is repeatedly used in domestic political debates, has been conspicuously absent in the past six months in describing the southern situation. In official Army documents, the terms "kabuan karn baeng yeak dindaen" (secessionist movement) and "jorn baeng yeak dindaen" (secessionist) are also completely missing. "Kloom koh kuam mai sa-ngom" or "groups that instigate unrest" is being used to describe the insurgents and militants.

It remains to be seen whether the violence in the South can be stopped given the dramatic increase in shootings and bombings there in recent weeks.

BP: Previous posts on the death of the imam are here and here. I agree that justice must be emphasised and action taken against security officials who commit wrongful acts, but security officials and some locals are not going to be happy if criminal prosecutions are not taken against those who perpetrate acts of violence. Vigilante groups also exist as some feel the authorities are soft. Again, any prosecution should be based on evidence, particularly forensic evidence gathered at the scene. Justice requires justice for all.

I am not so sure dialogue is necessary now until the people claiming to represent the insurgents can show, through a temporary ceasefire, that they actually have some clout.

btw, posts on statistics to follow once April statistics are released.

HM the King on Burma

2008-05-04T17:48:00.002+07:00

As blogged previously, Burma' Prime Minister Thein Sein has been in town and Samak has been making his usual colorful statements. Thein Sein also met with HM the King, I haven't seen any reports in the Thai press on this and only coverage has been from the Burmese press. New Light of Myanmar:

Prime Minister General Thein Sein paid a courtesy call on Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Chitralada Palace in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday.

Together with Prime Minister General Thein Sein, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Myanmar Ambassador to Thailand U Ye Win, Director-General Col Thant Shin of the Government Office were present on the occasion.

Together with the Thai King were Thai Prime Minister Mr Samak Sundaravej, the Minister of Tourism and Sports and Thai Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Bonsarn Bunnag.

First, the Thai King said that the goodwill visit of the Myanmar Prime Minister would bring about the improvement of mutual trust between the two nations. He thanked Myanmar for warmly welcoming Thai Princess Sirindhorn, who visited Myanmar three times.

Prime Minister General Thein Sein said Head of State Senior General Than Shwe recalled his two visits to Thailand. He had conveyed the message of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe for the health and prosperity of the Thai King. He continued to explain the development of Myanmar and collaboration on cementing friendship between Myanmar and Thailand.

Concerning democratization process, the Thai King said the examples of some western powers stood witness to the fact that too much democracy was not good. So much talk and less work was not either. The western big nations accused Thailand of being weak in exercising democracy. The democracy being practised by Thailand was better than the one they were practising.

He added that Myanmar was rich in natural resources and close cooperation between Myanmar and Thailand would contribute to the benefits of the two nations.

BP: I should note the source. I do not think any comment is necessary.

NOTE: Direct criticisms of HM the King are a criminal offence in Thailand. So please do not post any direct insults or even rumours about what else the HM the King might have said about Burma including about Aung San Suu Kyi.

Via a commentator and GWR.

Samak and the Media

2008-05-04T16:00:00.006+07:00

Samak's relations with the media has long been under fire even before the election, but last week he cancelled his twice-weekly press conferences as AFP reports:

Samak, a former TV chef and self-styled "man of the people" who led the People Power Party (PPP) to election victory last December, has taken some flak from the press for his direct manner of speaking.

The criticism has clearly stung, with Samak deciding to stop holding press conferences on Tuesdays and Fridays.

"I was criticised as prime minister and they (the public) said I have used impolite words, so to solve this problem and so that I do not utter such rude words, I must not talk," Samak said.

"From now on I will not give media interviews on Tuesday and Friday because they attack me ... Many senior citizens have said they have never seen any prime minister speak vulgar words," he added.

Samak is a colourful public speaker, who is prone to using slang seen by some upper-class Thais as unbecoming to a prime minister.

One of the reasons he cancelled the press conferences is reported by AP:

Samak said that a prominent figure in Thai society, whom he refused to name, told him to tone down his language. He said he was also asked to tone down the language he uses during his one-man Sunday television and radio talk shows.

BP: In Thai, it is reported he said some "puu yai" told him off. It wasn't necessarily a singular puu yai. A government spokesman, after being asked by the media spoke to Samak and clarified (Thai language link only) that the "puu yai" concerned was a reference to his wife and senior relatives/members of his extended family (ผู้ใหญ่คนนั้นก็คือญาติผู้ใหญ่กับภรรยาที่บ้าน). This kind of makes sense in that if Prem had told him off, I think it would have only encouraged him - he has a long-standing feud with Prem. Samak is not fazed:

He said he would not mind if the media would not report his activities because he had his Talk Samak Style programme to communicate with the public.

In related Samak-media news, the local journos are not happy. AP reports:

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej routinely harasses reporters and attempts to intimidate the media with his foul mouth, a coalition of Thai journalism groups charged Saturday.

The Organizations of Media Occupations, which represents three Thai journalism groups, said the tactics are aimed at giving the public the impression that the media is the source of all the country's problems.

"This is the new method of intimidation," the group said in a statement coinciding with World Press Freedom Day. "Samak has been using the state media, the state television to scolded the media with rude and dirty words with his intention to intimidate the media from reporting the news in a straightforward way."

It also accused the government of using criminal defamation laws to stifle the media, and the prime minister of using state-owned media outlets to counter stories that run in the privately owned media.

"This behavior reflects his intolerance toward different views, which entirely contradicts (the) culture of democracy," the group said of Samak.

BP: Has this government filed or threatened a defamation suit yet?

The Bangkok Post has more (cache):

Press freedom advocates slammed Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej for resorting to unpleasant language and a brusque manner to intimidate the media.

Mr Samak's hostile discourse with the press was the focus of discussions at yesterday's forum organised by the Thai Journalists Association, the Thai Broadcasting Journalists Association, and the Confederation of Thai Journalists to mark World Press Freedom Day.

Presented at the forum was a report on his behaviour and communication strategies in media interviews dating from October last year when he appeared on the political scene as leader of the People Power party.

Critics said his tactics were aimed at giving the public the impression that the media was the source of all the country's problems.

Uajit Virojtrairat, a media reform activist and member of the research team, told the forum that Mr Samak's hostile discourse ran counter to democratic development.

She said his rejection of criticisms reflected his indifference to the press' dignity and his ''authoritative'' attitudes hampered participatory democracy and human rights.

Mr Samak used several tactics to avoid answering reporters' questions and their scrutiny. His tactics included beating around the bush, and giving information which was irrelevant. He could also be satirical, or attack reporters outright, using crude language.

She said his non-verbal communications such as gesture and tone of voice were also distinctive and reflected his aggressiveness. He even frowned or pointed his finger at reporters when he was displeased.

Political scientist Somjai Phagaphasvivat said Mr Samak's tendency to give irrelevant answers was probably due to lack of information, as he did not have full control of his administration.

He also voiced concern about Mr Samak's tendency to avoid answering reporters' questions, saying this kind of behaviour would compromise transparency and accountability.

Panpimol Lortrakul, a psychiatrist, said that Mr Samak's abrasive manner could be viewed as an attempt to control the media.

She said he seemed not to realise that communicating with the media was equal to communicating with the public who needed to know the government's performance.

''I would like to ask Mr Samak to review his role, especially when he communicates with the media, to make his prime ministership productive for society,'' she said.

BP: I am shocked, the government is trying to control and spin information which is so unlike western governments! Samak was on the offensive on his weekly show this morning:

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej insisted he has never thought about intimidating the media, and his hostile discourse with the press has been his characteristic for so long.

"Why my mouth alone could excite the whole press this much?" he asked during his weekly television programme on Sunday morning. "If I had intimidated the media, I would have ordered the closure of newspapers or stopped reporters from writing op-ed pieces."

He said he never thought that his ways of communicating with the media would cause this much damage.

"I speak the way I used to. I speak what I think...never thought it would cause damage that media called intimidating them," he said.

He insisted that he has been criticised by the media in the past three months that he has served as prime minister, so it is his right to defend himself and respond back.

"It would be unfair if I have to be passive while the media keep attacking me," he said.

BP: This morning, Samak said the media have a role, he has a role. He did a parody on what they want him to say, speaking with a soft voice and using the "krub" (a polite particle used by men). He also told a joke with a play on words saying he was not a "krub, krub" (tight) person and that he was a "ruam, ruam" (loose) person - the pronunciation of the two krubs is different, but you will get the joke if you hear it.

His morning show still remains popular and certainly sets the agenda whereas the press conferences were a bit of a disaster.

I recommend TJTS's latest post on this issue.

Samak did a recent Q & A with Time which is worth reading to see Samak's style.

Thanks again to a long-term reader.

A Matter of Interpretation

2008-05-04T09:39:00.001+07:00

I previously blogged on the comments by an anonymous writer at Hi-Thaksin who wrote about Prem. The writer, Charnwit Jariyanukul, was outed publicly by the Democrats. He has now held a press conference.

The Nation's headline "Charnwit admits distributing documents in criticism of Prem". The article:

Activist Charnwit Jariyanukul admitted Saturday that he had been distributing several books written in criticism of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Oct 14 Memorial, Charnwit said he was not the one who wrote the books and articles in criticism of Prem.

He said he received copies of the books while attending anti-coup rallies and he found that the books talked about "truth" which should be disseminated to inform the public.

Charnwit admitted that he also printed and distributed leaflets in criticism of Prem at the Nonthaburi but he had been arrested and his case is pending a court decision.

The Bangkok Post's headline "Charnwit denies involvement in attacks on Prem". The article:

Charnwit Jariyanukul held a press conference on Saturday at the October 14 Monument to deny that he is involved in a movement attacking Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda.

Mr Charnwit insisted that he has played no part in distribution of video CDs and books attacking Gen Prem.

He admitted that he helped to publicise a purple-covered book containing statements of the Saturday Group Against Dictatorship calling on Gen Prem to resign. He said he would like the public to understand the real intention behind the coup so he decided to publicise it.

About 50 people, most of them members of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, attended the press conference and cheered for Mr Charnwit.

BP: So he distributed leaflets, but not books or VCDs. Neither are strictly wrong, but it shows different sources interpret the overall message differently.

As 2Bangkok.com would say, a tale of two newspapers.

via Anonymous.

Photo of the Day

2008-05-04T03:37:00.004+07:00

Actual Caption from Bangkok Post: Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej talks to reporters while Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva looks on before Mr Samak’s special lecture on the constitution at the Miracle Grand hotel in Laksi yesterday. — Sarot Meksophawannakul

BP: Abhisit's expression is priceless! It is like my aide told me I would Miss Thailand. Please save me from this madman.

Another 3 Killed in the Deep South

2008-05-03T14:50:00.002+07:00

Reuters reports:

Two Muslims and a Buddhist have been killed in southern Thailand in two
separate incidents bearing the hallmarks of reprisal attacks in the
violence-plagued, predominantly Muslim region.

Four suspected Muslim militants armed with automatic rifles attacked the district office of a Buddhist volunteer militia in Pattani province late on Thursday, killing one Buddhist and wounding another, police said.

Less than an hour later, a hand grenade was thrown into a small mosque
in a nearby district where about a dozen Muslims were praying. Two people were killed and eight wounded, police said.

Army spokesman Acra Tiproche said it was too early to talk about
reprisals between religious groups in the region, where more than 3,000 people
have died in a four-year Malay Muslim separatist campaign.

"I can't say at this point whether they are connected or not," Acra
said from Bangkok.

BP: Whether true or not, many local Muslims will believe the second attack was a revenge attack carried out by Buddhist vigilante groups.

Subversives at the Post

2008-05-02T21:07:00.000+07:00

An editorial in today's Bangkok Post (cache):

The jingoistic drumbeat has got louder after cameras at a Manchester City football game spotted a Thai flag bearing the name "Thaksin". The local press has called it a "scandal" and activist Veera Somkwamkit wants police to arrest former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who owns Manchester City, for allowing the flag to be displayed.

Even the opposition Democrat party is calling for an investigation. Democrat MP Sirichoke Sopha called a press conference to announce that he had never seen a flag that large in his 10 years studying in England.

The flag is a country's symbol. The concern that the honour of the Thai flag could be compromised by the incident is understandable and justified, but it shouldn't be fanned into nationalistic fury. In fact, as many football players have pointed out, enscribing a flag with a football player's name is fairly common practice. This implies that some unwitting fans most likely are to blame. Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama has already said that Mr Thaksin was "uncomfortable and upset" to learn that his name was printed on the flag and displayed during the game. For his part, Mr Thaksin has already asked supporters not to do it again.

It would be a waste of time for Parliament to debate this any further. It is precisely the kind of non-issue designed solely to divide society and play on base emotions of fear and hatred.

BP: An appeal to get back to "issues"? The writer must be an Obama supporter :) On the substance I agree and after being exasperated by the nonsense by all sides, I blogged on it yesterday. It is extraordinary what a faux non-issue it is and how it has been blown out of all proportion.

It is certainly common for the country's conservative forces to accuse its political opponents of trying to undermine the pledge to uphold "Nation, Religion and King". But it is unwise to walk down this road once again. The petty politicking that has become commonplace is truly a disservice to the country, and all politicians who engage in these tactics are actually hurting the nation much more than someone who stitches a name on a flag.

The opposition party has been particularly disappointing in this regard. Instead of holding press conferences to demand that the government investigates a flag displayed halfway across the world, Democrat party leaders should get together and come up with a coherent stance on constitutional changes.

BP: I agree. Opposing is easy, come up with a solution. Although, in fairness to the Democrats, they are probably waiting on the draft amendments before coming down with a position on the specifics on whether they oppose the amendment or not. Nevertheless, they can state where they stand on Section 237 and Article 309.

According to Democrat spokesman Ong-Art Klampaiboon, the party still hasn't reached a conclusion on whether it supports changing the controversial Articles 237 or 309. What is it waiting for? The opposition should be providing real leadership on this issue, instead of hiding behind the radicalism of the People's Alliance for Democracy, which opposes anything that might slightly benefit the PPP rather than looking at how the country's democracy might be improved.

As more "sensitive" patriotism issues come to the fore, it is obvious that some in the country's corridors of power are seeking to divert attention away from real progress that could make the country a better place.

The same fissures that led to the 2006 coup remain today, and the most extreme voices in society still manage to grab all the headlines. In some cases, the most fanatical voices are the journalists themselves.

BP: Oh dear, a dig at Veera, Sopon, Thanong, Yoon, or Tulsie?

It is time for the moderates to stand up. The country's leaders - whether they are in or outside of the political sphere - must adhere to the sufficiency economy philosophy of His Majesty the King and find a middle way. The voices of reason must overtake those who care only about their own power. Unfortunately, none of our leaders - whether in the government, opposition, bureaucracy or military - has shown the courage to really put the country first. That is the real patriotism problem facing Thailand; not some flag shown at a football stadium in England.

BP: More concern by some over some fan with a Thai flag that what there is over the September 19, 2006 coup.