Makan in Thailand

[Shibadog]

On ‎8‎/‎3‎/‎2020 at 5:35 PM, steveluv said:

Passed by a farm in Khon Kaen and watch the farmer planting some parts of his rice field, really peaceful and nice place. Farmer's life really hard.

 

how's the economy there doing? I'm sure the areas which were highly dependent on tourism (such as ko samui, Phuket, pattaya) are hit badly. Issan probably less so?

on a food-related note, have you tried Het-tob/het-pho (the round mushroom)? I am never in North Thai during the season. I was told sometimes can buy tinned/canned ones in supermarket but I wasn't able to find it.

[Jamesc]

I also want to go to thigh land.

 

[steveluv]

On 8/6/2020 at 1:44 PM, Shibadog said:

 

how's the economy there doing? I'm sure the areas which were highly dependent on tourism (such as ko samui, Phuket, pattaya) are hit badly. Issan probably less so?

on a food-related note, have you tried Het-tob/het-pho (the round mushroom)? I am never in North Thai during the season. I was told sometimes can buy tinned/canned ones in supermarket but I wasn't able to find it.

Sorry for the late reply.

Economy is really bad here and people are spending less (makes my selling of screws here more difficult). Isaan is hit by nature many farmers this year could not grow rice because of lack of water.

Round mushroom or het pop is in season now and you are right its northern Thai mushroom. Kind of fun to eat because it pops in the mouth when you bite, I love it especially when cooked with curry like this

 

[steveluv]

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Turbulent-Thailand/Thai-youth-step-up-protests-amid-political-tensions-and-economic-woes?utm_campaign=RN Subscriber newsletter&utm_medium=daily newsletter&utm_source=NAR Newsletter&utm_content=article link&del_type=1&pub_date=20200810190000&seq_num=16&si=44594

Thai youth step up protests amid political tensions and economic woes

Speeches target pro-military government, impunity and role of the monarchy

Protest leader Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon at a flash demonstration in Bangkok after two unusually outspoken activists were arrested on Aug. 8. They were released on bail over the weekend, but bigger protests are expected this week.     © Reuters
APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT, Nikkei staff writerAugust 10, 2020 05:10 JST

BANGKOK -- Thailand's politics are churning again with a new generation openly venting on a raft of grievances ranging from constant military meddling in politics and a backward-looking constitution to economic mismanagement and flagrant legal impunity for the rich and powerful.

Further evidence of political discontent surfaced with a Harry Potter-themed protest under the Free Youth banner at Bangkok's Democracy Monument on July 18. It attracted about a thousand students, and was among the largest political gatherings since the military staged a coup in 2014.

The young demonstrators announced plans for two bigger protests later in the capital with up to 10,000 expected to join. The first will be at Thammasat University on Monday.

The Democracy Monument speakers included Arnon Nampa, a human rights lawyer, and political activist Panupong Jadnok, both of whom were arrested on Friday on a variety of charges, including alleged sedition. Over 200 students gathered outside the police station where the two dissidents were being detained, and they were subsequently released on bail.

At the July 18 protest, Arnon had with rare boldness called for a public debate on the role of the monarchy, but was careful to say he was not advocating its overthrow. Police are believed to have another 31 activists marked down for possible arrest.

Hundreds of other students have staged sporadic anti-government rallies in 45 of the country's 76 provinces. The protesters called for parliament to be dissolved and the constitution to be amended, particularly Article 256 that gives 250 military-appointed senators a large say in choosing the prime minister and an effective veto on constitutional change.

"We should not underestimate the protesters," Yutthaporn Issarachai, a political scientist at Sukhothai Thammathirat University, told the Nikkei Asian Review. "They have pointed out that the charter is not very democratic and should be amended."

Anti-government sentiments have spread quickly on social media, particularly among university and high school students. When they gather for peaceful flash protests, the youngsters light up mobile phones for visual impact. Many observers expect the protests to gather momentum, and for people from other walks of life to join.

Boonyakiat Karavekphan, a political science lecturer at the Ramkamhaeng University, told Nikkei that Thailand's dismal economic outlook is fueling the political unrest, particularly among the young. "The government can do nothing to support the economy at this time," he said. "If young people feel they can't count on the government or the judicial system, then the protests will get bigger and more middle-class people will join."

The common ground of discontent is expanding. A widespread grievance has been the perceived failings of the justice system in the case of Vorayuth Yoovidhya, a grandson in the billionaire Krating Daeng (Red Bull) family. Vorayuth -- who is widely known as Boss -- was accused of killing a police officer in 2012 while driving his Ferrari intoxicated through Bangkok at 177 kph early one morning.

Vorayuth ignored numerous police summonses and fled the country in a private aircraft two days ahead of his belated arrest. After nearly eight years, with some of the lesser charges against him already expired, the attorney general's office decided on Jan. 20 to quietly drop all charges, opening the way for Vorayuth to reenter the country without fear of arrest. When news reports about his legal absolution finally surfaced on July 23, there was widespread outrage over the brazen impunity the rich and powerful evidently continue to enjoy in Thailand.

The controversy has been seized upon by the Free Youth network. Lawyers, parliamentarians and activist organizations have also called for an open investigation. Embattled Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha finally ordered one on July 29, and has revealed his personal unhappiness over the way in which the case has been handled.

Testing the public's patience, two new witnesses had testified that Vorayuth's car was traveling much less fast than previously calculated, that the dead policeman had suddenly pulled out into its path, and that the cocaine detected in Vorayuth's blood tests was residue from dental treatment.

A key witness to the alleged slower speed of the vehicle meanwhile died in a motorcycle accident in Chiangmai on July 30.

"Prison is for the poor, but the rich go free," said Somporn Sudthai, a 27-year-old taxi driver told Nikkei, saying he was infuriated by the case.

"Justice is a fundamental right that everyone should have, but this case widens inequality in the country," Rosana Tositrakul, a former senator and a prominent political critic, told Nikkei. "The rich and poor get different standards of justice."

A survey conducted by Super Poll on July 28, when the Red Bull row was escalating again, found that 91% of respondents felt the Thai judicial system was undependable, and 86% said they have lost faith in it. Over 90% of teenagers polled said they would disobey the government because of its failure to protect people.

"We were intimidated although we only staged peaceful protests," said Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree, a 23-year-old political science student and protest leader from Chulalongkorn University. "But for this hit-and-run case, there was no justice -- this is not fair."

Tattep said Free Youth has already morphed into the Free People movement, with many others coming on board to protest. Another major protest is scheduled for the afternoon of Aug. 16 at Democracy Monument, and Tattep told Nikkei he expects over 10,000 to show up.

Prayuth has vaguely indicated some willingness to revisit some contentious parts of the constitution, Thailand's 20th since 1932, when the absolute monarchy was overturned. Although he has been ruling by emergency decree during the COVID-19 pandemic, the prime minister has recently been preoccupied with reshuffling his weak coalition cabinet and shoring up its fractious dominant party, Palang Pracharat.

Somkid Jatusripitak, the deputy prime minister who oversaw economic strategy and a former finance minister, was among four key people who stepped down last month.

On Wednesday, King Maha Vajiralongkorn signed the royal assent for the new cabinet. Supattanapong Punmeechaow, the former head of PTT Global Chemical, a state enterprise, will become a deputy prime minister and energy minister. Predee Daochai, a former co-president of Kasikornbank, is the new finance minister.

There is considerable skepticism about the cabinet reshuffle's likely impact on an economy already severely battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, with no clear path out of the crisis yet apparent.

"It's not a sincere reshuffle to find the right people to tackle our economic problems," said Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, a 21-year-old student at Thammasat University. She argued that the well-being of the dominant coalition party is being put ahead of the national interest. Panusuya has seen friends forced to drop out of classes because of economic hardship, while her own family's car repair business has suffered a 70% drop in earnings.

Although Thailand has earned considerable international kudos for its handling of the pandemic, it must now foot the bill for the economic damage. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce has forecast that Thailand's gross domestic product this year will fall by 9.4%, but many regard that as conservative given the decimation of exports, the collapse of tourism, and severely weakened consumer confidence.

In April, the Ministry of Labor reported that unemployment was already up by 45%. The Office of the National Economic and Social Development predicted in June that unemployment would climb to up to 4% of the workforce, but that figure is expected to be revised substantially upwards. Unemployment usually runs at about 1% -- about 400,000 workers -- but as many as 8.4 million people could be losing their jobs, with those in small and medium size businesses affected particularly badly.

Edited August 11, 2020 by steveluv

[Shibadog]

9 minutes ago, steveluv said:

Sorry for the late reply.

Economy is really bad here and people are spending less (makes my selling of screws here more difficult). Isaan is hit by nature many farmers this year could not grow rice because of lack of water.

Round mushroom or het pop is in season now and you are right its northern Thai mushroom. Kind of fun to eat because it pops in the mouth when you bite, I love it especially when cooked with curry like this

 

oh, Isaan still facing drought? Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai were hit by floods during the ongoing rainy season. Not sure if the reservoirs are sufficiently filled up though.

Nice video. How to order this dish? Gaeng het pop? i'm sure it'll be especially good in cold weather and chilly nights.

[Shibadog]

17 minutes ago, steveluv said:

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Turbulent-Thailand/Thai-youth-step-up-protests-amid-political-tensions-and-economic-woes?utm_campaign=RN Subscriber newsletter&utm_medium=daily newsletter&utm_source=NAR Newsletter&utm_content=article link&del_type=1&pub_date=20200810190000&seq_num=16&si=44594

Thai youth step up protests amid political tensions and economic woes

Speeches target pro-military government, impunity and role of the monarchy

the rally at TU as mentioned above

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2020/08/11/student-protest-at-thammasat-the-largest-rally-in-months/

"Student leaders in Thailand delivered an unprecedented challenge to the country’s constitutional monarchy on Monday, strongly criticizing the king and demanding changes to lessen what they believe is its anti-democratic nature."

[steveluv]

1 hour ago, Shibadog said:

oh, Isaan still facing drought? Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai were hit by floods during the ongoing rainy season. Not sure if the reservoirs are sufficiently filled up though.

Nice video. How to order this dish? Gaeng het pop? i'm sure it'll be especially good in cold weather and chilly nights.

Actually its raining season now just that past months drought so many padi is dry.

Yes Gaeng het pop is correct. Really nice. This year still not eat.

[steveluv]

1 hour ago, Shibadog said:

the rally at TU as mentioned above

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2020/08/11/student-protest-at-thammasat-the-largest-rally-in-months/

"Student leaders in Thailand delivered an unprecedented challenge to the country’s constitutional monarchy on Monday, strongly criticizing the king and demanding changes to lessen what they believe is its anti-democratic nature."

Its really getting interesting here now.

[steveluv]

This is really not simple matter anymore

 

[steveluv]

https://prachatai.com/english/node/8709

ByPrachatai

[Full statement] The demonstration at Thammasat proposes monarchy reform

Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, the Student Union of Thailand spokesperson read the first declaration at the Thammasat demonstration on 10 August.

Submitted on Tue, 11 Aug 2020 - 11:17 AM

The organizer of the demonstration at Thammasat University read their first declaration. It proposes that the monarchy should be reformed in line with democratic principles. The perception toward the monarchy should not be exaggerated.

The demonstration was held on 10 August. The proposal toward the monarchy reform has been made even more objectively after the first speech about the monarchy role and deep-rooted Thai political problems by Anon Nampa, a human rights lawyer in a demonstration on 3 August.

Beside the monarchy issue, other demonstrators also gave speeches about other problem such as labor rights, gender equality and political crisis.

 

United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration

Declaration No. 1

To the people:

Since the People’s Party fomented a revolutionary transformation, the people have hoped that our country would be a democracy with the king as head of state who is truly above politics. But it has not been as such as the king has exercised power to intervene in politics from above. For example, whenever a coup topples a government that has arisen from a real democratic process, the king has signed to appoint the head of the junta. This constitutes the endorsement of each and every coup as legal.

Moreover, the king has moved troops and also transferred a significant amount of the national budget to belong to the himself personally. He has exercised extralegal royal authority to amend the constitution, which had already passed a referendum, to allow him to reside outside the kingdom without having to appoint a regent.

This could be done because the dictatorship government bowed down under the shadow of the king and continues to claim the monarchy for its own benefit. It can be seen that they mutually benefit. Such a situation constitutes an enemy to the principles of a democracy with the king as head of state. There is no democratic country in which such actions take place.

The people ought to know that the king of our country is not above politics. This has consistently been the root of political problems. He has neglected his duties of being the head of state that binds him to the hearts of the people and uses the people’s taxes to seek pleasure and reside outside the country. This takes place while the people are experiencing hardship from economic downturn. He also has close relationships with the rebels who foment coups to topple democratic rule.

It is therefore evident that if there are no adjustments made for the monarchy to co-exist with the institutions of the people, the people will necessarily lose faith in the monarchy.

The United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration therefore makes the following demands in order to resolve the problems with the monarchy:

1. Revoke Article 6 of the 2017 Constitution that does not allow anyone to make any accusation against the king. And add an article to allow parliament to examine the wrongdoing of the king, as had been stipulated in the constitution promulgated by the People’s Party.

2. Revoke Article 112 of the Criminal Code, as well as allowing the people to exercise freedom of expression about the monarchy and giving an amnesty to all those prosecuted for criticizing the monarchy.

3. Revoke the Crown Property Act of 2018 and make a clear division between the assets of the king under the control of the Ministry of Finance and his personal assets.

4. Reduce the amount of the national budget allocated to the king to be in line with the economic conditions of the country.

5. Abolish the Royal Offices. Units with a clear duty, for example, the Royal Security Command, should be transferred and placed under other agencies. Unnecessary units, such as the Privy Council, should be disbanded.

6. Cease all giving and receiving of donations by royal charity funds in order for the all of the assets of the the monarchy to be auditable.

7. Cease the exercise of royal prerogative over expression of political opinions in public.

8. Cease all public relations and education that excessively and one-sidedly glorify the monarchy.

9. Search for the facts about the murder of those who criticized or had some kind of relation with the monarchy.

10. The king must not endorse any further coups.

These demands are not a proposal to topple the monarchy. They are a good-faith proposal made for the monarchy to be able to continue to be esteemed by the people within a democracy.

Therefore, for the monarchy to be secure in the present-day world, it must not hold power related to politics. It should be able to to be controlled, audited, and criticized and it should not be a burden on the people. Then it will be able to be held as the monarchy that is dignified in line with a universal meaning of democracy.

[Wt_know]

4 hours ago, steveluv said:

This is really not simple matter anymore

 

wah mocking jay ...   

[steveluv]

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1967147/new-status-sought-for-thai-soup

New status sought for Thai soup
PUBLISHED : 13 AUG 2020 AT 10:02

The Ministry of Culture is applying to have Thailand's world-famous hot and sour prawn soup, Tom Yum Gung, registered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Minister Itthiphol Kunplome said officials at the ministry were preparing documents and gathering information from around the country before submitting the proposal.

Mr Itthiphol pointed out the cultural similarities of each country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), with friendships endured since the founding of the regional bloc 53 years ago. He said that the government and ministry intended to create a role for Thailand in Asean by promoting its cultural uniqueness in the furtherance of international relations.

Recent Asean Day celebrations presented iconic food from each member country to highlight the variety of its regional food.

These included Nom Banh Chok from Cambodia, a rice noodle dish with curry similar to Thailand's Kanom Chin, and Indonesia's Lumpia Semarang, which are spring rolls akin to the kingdom's Po Piah.

[steveluv]

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Thailand's peaceful student protests press for bold reforms

Demo on Queen Mother's birthday called off, but monarchy under scrutiny

Student demonstrators flashing trademark three-finger salutes called for major political reforms during a peaceful demonstration at Thammasat University on Monday.    © Reuters

MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerAugust 12, 2020 11:03 JST

BANGKOK -- Student protests have been growing in Bangkok with demonstrators openly calling for a change of government, a proper debate on the role of the monarchy and constitutional reforms. There have also recently been smaller protests in over 45 of the kingdom's 76 provinces.

Following a demonstration on Monday at Thammasat University, students had planned to stage an afternoon protest in Lumpini Park in the heart of Bangkok on Wednesday -- a public holiday marking Queen Mother Sirikit's birthday that is celebrated nationally as Mother's Day.

The event was called off the night before, organizers implied to deny suspected fifth-columnists an opportunity to cause disruption.

An even bigger protest is, however, planned for Sunday at Democracy Monument near the administrative heart of the capital.

Thousands of university students and others turned out on Monday, making it one of the largest political gatherings since the military staged a coup in 2014. Protesters called for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his cabinet, and for constitutional amendments.

The constitution, Thailand's 20th since 1932, was drafted at the military's behest, and adopted after a national referendum in 2016. It gives 250 military-appointed senators a large say in choosing the prime minister, and an effective veto on constitutional reform.

Monday's protest leaders drew applause when 10 reforms to the monarchy were read out by Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, spokesperson for the Student Union of Thailand. These included revocation of the law of lese-majeste, a reduction in public spending on the royal family, a clearer distinction between royal and public assets, and abolition of the privy council along with other "unnecessary units."

In past protests, demonstrators have avoided open criticism of the monarchy. Human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa broke the taboo when he called for a public debate on the role of the monarchy at a protest held at Democracy Monument on July 18. Arnon was arrested on Friday on a variety of charges, including alleged sedition. He and a colleague were released on bail after some 200 students gathered outside the police station where he was being detained.

The political discontent comes at a time of increasing economic hardship brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Southeast Asia's second largest economy is expected to contract by 8.1% this year, according to the Bank of Thailand.

Students have tapped into public resentment by protesting against a justice system that many feel affords impunity to the rich and powerful. Vorayuth Yoovidhya, grandson of billionaire Red Bull co-founder Chaleo Yoovidhya, was accused of killing a police officer while intoxicated in a hit-and-run incident in 2012, but fled abroad before his arrest. The case was quietly dropped by the attorney general's office in January and his legal absolution only surfaced in July.

Warnings were issued after Monday's protests. "Whatever they want to rally, let them. But if it is against the law, then it is," said Prayuth in a doorstep interview on Tuesday.

"Differing opinions are normal in a democratic system," said Buddhipongse Punnakanta, the digital economy and society minister. "But we have to be careful not to infringe others' rights or offend the country's highest institution," he said in a reference to the monarchy. "Nobody will accept it."

Official attempts to contain the situation have included obstructing communications. The students have used YouTube, Facebook and other social media to spread their messages. Invoking the Computer Crimes Act, Buddhipongse called on IT companies to cooperate in taking down "illegal pages."

Some royalists and government supporters have also been active, with dozens rallying outside Government House on Monday.

"With at least one battalion in each province, we will have the army of people who serve to protect the monarchy," Rianthong Nanna, an ultraroyalist with almost 100,000 Facebook followers, posted on Tuesday, hinting at moves that may be afoot to thwart so far overwhelmingly peaceful protests.

[steveluv]

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Thai-Airways-record-900m-loss-wipes-out-shareholder-equity?utm_campaign=RN Subscriber newsletter&utm_medium=coronavirus_newsletter&utm_source=NAR Newsletter&utm_content=article link&del_type=10&pub_date=20200814140000&seq_num=6&si=44594

Thai Airways' record $900m loss wipes out shareholder equity
Troubled flag carrier off to rocky start in rehabilitation under bankruptcy court

Liabilities at Thai Airways ballooned to 332.1 billion baht as of June, up nearly 37% from the end of 2019. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerAugust 14, 2020 13:52 JST

BANGKOK -- Thai Airways International has revealed the damage to its financial status inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic, which gave it a final push to give up the idea of self-resuscitation.

The cash-strapped national flag carrier's net loss for the first half of this year was 28 billion baht ($900 million), according to its financial results released on Friday. The loss ballooned 4.4-fold compared to the same period the previous year, marking the largest retreat for the first half of a fiscal year since comparable data became available in 2007.

Its total revenue decreased by 56.9% to 40 billion baht, reflecting the strengthening impact of the coronavirus despite social-distancing measures. In pre-coronavirus times, the first half, especially the first quarter, of each year provided Thai Airways with most of its profit, as Thailand attracts many Chinese tourists during the Lunar New Year.

The results were posted ahead of the first hearing scheduled on Monday with the Bankruptcy Court to discuss the rehabilitation of the troubled carrier. Thai Airways filed corporate reorganization proceedings at the court in May, as COVID-19 travel restrictions eroded its cash management.

The announcement of results on Friday was the first time the financial damage of COVID-19 to the national flag carrier had seen the light of the day. Thai Airways was granted an extension on submitting its March results by the Stock Exchange of Thailand until Friday. The March results were posted along with the June results.

It recorded a net loss of 5.3 billion baht for the quarter ending June, following another net loss of 22.6 billion baht in the first quarter.

The result announcements posed the airline an urgent need for a swift recovery to maintain its listed company status. Its total shareholders' equity turned negative at minus 18.1 billion baht. At the Stock Exchange of Thailand, shareholders' equity lower than zero leads to consideration of delisting. The airline is given three years to raise itself from negative shareholders' equity, before facing removal from the bourse.

The national flag carrier's total liabilities ballooned to 332.1 billion baht as of June, up 36.7% from the end of 2019.

The petition for rehabilitation accepted by the Central Bankruptcy Court gave Thai Airways an automatic stay on debt repayments. At the hearing on Monday, the court will decide whether to allow Thai Airways to advance in the rehabilitation process and to appoint a committee to draw up an actual restructuring plan.

The restructuring plan is expected to be submitted to creditors and the court for approval next year. Rehabilitation administrators will be able to begin restructuring in May or June 2021, if the process goes smoothly, according to a legal adviser of Thai Airways.

But the outlook for a swift rehabilitation is looking grim. The Tourism Authority of Thailand said revenue from international visitors in 2021 under its base-case scenario could shrink to 618 billion baht, or about 32% of the 1.9 trillion earned in 2019. The revenue will even fall to 298 billion baht in its worst-case scenario.

Slimmer earnings opportunities limit Thai Airways' ability to rehabilitate just through revenue growth and cost cuts, raising the need for capital injection. The last time it raised capital was in 2010. 

[steveluv]

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Thailand's youth demo evolves to largest protest since 2014 coup

Turnout of over 20,000 at peaceful rally shows growing demand for reforms

Thailand's young demonstrators often wave illuminated cell phones above their heads as a visually striking means of peaceful protest. (Photo by Masayuki Yuda)
MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerAugust 16, 2020 08:51 JSTUpdated on August 17, 2020 02:04 JST

BANGKOK -- Thailand's free-speech advocates demanding democratic reforms are winning increasingly open support from academics, celebrities and a broadening swathe of the public as the authorities and royalist establishment attempt unsuccessfully to silence them.

Free People, an activist group that morphed out of student-led Free Youth, organized the biggest rally to date on Sunday afternoon at Democracy Monument near the administrative heart of Thailand's capital.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau put the number of protesters at about 12,000, but a policeman on the ground told the Nikkei Asian Review that around 20,000 had turned out.

An experienced foreign observer at the scene estimated the crowd, which stretched into the streets leading off from the monument's large roundabout, to be approaching 25,000.

But even the lowest estimates made this by far the largest political gathering Thailand has seen since the military staged a coup in 2014.

Three-fingered salutes inspired by the film Hunger Games have been adopted as a form of silent protest against repressive government. (Photo by Masayuki Yuda)

At least 600 policemen had been assigned to block access to the monument itself, and to patrol the surrounding areas, and they were in normal uniforms.

Activists have, however, been tailed by security officers in plain clothes in recent weeks. The police are believed to have 31 under surveillance and targeted for possible arrest.

On Friday, Parit Chiwarak from the Student Union of Thailand, was arrested by four policemen who struggled to manhandle his significant mass. Parit -- better known as Penguin -- was released on bail soon after Sunday's protest got going.

In the morning, about a hundred royalists held another rally at the same spot. One banner read: "You can chase anybody, but don't touch the Chakri dynasty" -- a reference to the 238-year-old House of Chakri that has ruled Thailand, formerly Siam, through ten reigns.

The current incumbent, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, is also known as Rama X. He acceded in 2016 but is resident most of the time in Germany.

"I want leaders of the country to think of public benefits rather than themselves," said Bia a 38-year-old native of Surat Thani province, who travelled 500km to attend the rally.

Many protesters wore black t-shirts. They were joined by others in red shirts signaling their allegiance to Thaksin Shinawatra, the populist prime minister ousted by the military in a coup in 2006.

The demonstration was well organized, with cooked food and cold drinks available -- essential sustenance in the exceptionally humid monsoon climate.

A possible dampener on proceedings failed to materialize. The capital has seen heavy rain in recent weeks, mostly in the late afternoon and evening. Instead, as dusk approached, massive sunbeams from behind a cloud provided a spectacular backdrop to the art deco monument that in darker times past has been the scene of significant political violence.

As darkness approached, the overwhelmingly peaceful crowd sat on the street waving lights from their cell phones above their heads. Many stayed beyond the planned 9 p.m. ending.

Protesters occasionally gave trademark three-fingered salutes inspired by the film Hunger Games as an expression of silent rebuke to repressive government.

Bangkok's protesters on Sunday held up banners in different languages and chanted repeatedly: “Down with dictatorship! Long live democracy.” (Photo by Masayuki Yuda)

Free People was established on Aug. 7 to facilitate broader public support for political reforms. Three of the main demands being pressed are for an end to official harassment that inhibits people exercising their rights; rewriting contentious parts of the military-drafted constitution; and dissolving parliament.

The group has also called for an end to coups and national unity governments, and pointedly for a "democratic form of government with the monarch under the constitution."

"Once the constitution is rewritten, every true demand of the people will be spoken of and recognized," Free People said in a statement released on Wednesday. "Moreover, under the constitution, all are equal without any exception."

The constitution, Thailand's 20th since 1932, was drafted at the military's behest, and adopted after a national referendum in 2016. It gives 250 military-appointed senators a large say in choosing the prime minister, and an effective veto on constitutional reform.

There have recently been smaller protests in over 45 of the kingdom's 76 provinces. Originally protesters called for a change of government and constitutional reforms, and avoided open criticism of the monarchy.

Matters moved in a fresh direction on July 18 at a protest organized by Free Youth when human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa broke a major taboo and called for a public debate on the role of the kingdom's highest institution -- the monarchy.

The issue gained momentum on Monday at a protest at Thammasat University when ten proposed reforms to the monarchy were read out by Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, spokesperson for the Student Union of Thailand.

Sunday's speakers called again for broad reforms, including of the monarchy, but did not revisit the ten specific demands made at Thammasat. Instead, students mingled in the crowds to share their views.

The ten demands included revocation of the law of lese-majeste, a reduction in public spending on the royal family, a clearer distinction between royal and public assets, and abolition of the privy council along with other "unnecessary units." The Thammasat speech on Monday drew repeated applause.

Arnon appeared on stage on Sunday, and said: "Our mission is to transform Thailand to true democracy -- the mission should end with our generation.

The political discontent comes at a time of increasing economic hardship brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Southeast Asia's second largest economy is expected to contract by 8.1% this year, according to the Bank of Thailand.

Students have tapped into public resentment by also drawing attention to a justice system that many feel affords impunity to the rich and powerful. Vorayuth Yoovidhya, grandson of billionaire Red Bull co-founder Chaleo Yoovidhya, was accused of killing a police officer while intoxicated in a hit-and-run incident in 2012, but fled abroad before his arrest. The case was quietly dropped by the attorney general's office in January and news of his legal absolution only surfaced in July.

Authorities have already tried to clamp down on activists. Arnon was arrested on Aug. 7 on a variety of charges, including alleged sedition. He and a colleague were released last weekend on bail after some 200 students gathered outside the police station where they were being detained.

The recent arrests caught international attention. On Saturday, U.S.-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on Thai authorities to drop all charges and unconditionally release Parit. "Each new arrest of a peaceful prodemocracy activist shows the Thai government's authoritarian tendencies and lack of respect for human rights," it said.

"Thai authorities have routinely enforced censorship and gagged public discussions of rights, political reforms, and the monarchy," said HRW. It noted that Thailand became signatory in 1996 to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protects rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

An elderly pro-democracy advocate in Bangkok on Sunday asserted her rights alongside predominantly much younger protesters.     © AP

The Royal Thai Police deputy spokesperson, Col. Kissana Phathanacharoen, raised concerns on Thursday over the rallies, and said officers would be deployed to beef up security on Sunday.

Tanu Sukbamphoeng, a royalist lawyer, called for enforcement of the law of lese-majeste, which is meant to protect the monarchy from hurt. After proving counterproductive, the law fell out of use in 2017, and the authorities resorted to other control mechanisms, including the law of sedition and the Computer Crimes Act.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha talked about the rallies at a news conference on Thursday. He called on authorities to probe the financing of the protests and to identify their backers. He said that was standard procedure, and did not require specific orders from him.

Speaking on national television the same day, the prime minister struck a more conciliatory note. "Let the young lead the way and provide the moral leadership to show us all how to take the hard path of collaboration with people who may disagree with us during times of national hardship," he said.

According Traisuree Thaisaranakul, the deputy government spokesperson, Prayuth has told authorities to be patient and show restraint if goaded by protesters. He said forceful control measures were to be avoided, but also warned protesters not to violate the rights of others.

Prayuth has been running the country under a state of emergency since March during the COVID-19 outbreak. The emergency rule gives him power to limit normal rights, including freedom of assembly.

No local transmission of the virus has been detected in the past two months, and the prime minister has not so far invoked his emergency powers to contain the rallies.

The student-led activism has meanwhile been gaining traction. A group of 147 university faculty members from across the kingdom said the proposed reforms did not violate criminal law in relation to the king. "Thai society should learn to raise the ceiling of tolerance and converse with reason for the sustainability of democracy in society," the group said.

Another group of 358 scholars from the Thai Academic Network for Civil Rights also stood with the protesters. "Universities should remain a place where people can raise questions and seek peaceful solutions for society together," it said.

Some young Thai celebrities have voiced their support for freedom of speech on social media. Among them was the popular girl band BNK48.

"I respect Arnon's boldness in daring to speak out about the truth in public," said a 60-year-old noodle shop owner who attended with one of his children, a Thammasat student. "Power never truly belongs to the people -- Thailand has become like Myanmar in a way."

[steveluv]

https://www.theage.com.au/world/asia/why-are-there-protests-against-thailand-s-king-20200817-p55mlj.html?fbclid=IwAR2ktqSVw9GMRvsAaoPMo_lhgSYuQB2nWobMmRnlb61RzuK5Tv_aWMOlxGY

Why are there protests against Thailand’s king?
Thailand's king has been subject to international scrutiny since his days at school in Australia. Why are there protests against the monarchy now? Why are they so unusual?
By Michael Ruffles
AUGUST 18, 2020

Thailand's monarchy has long been considered untouchable, an institution of vast wealth and power protected against scrutiny by draconian laws. It is often described as a sacred and revered institution, purportedly above politics.

With a new king, criticisms long whispered are spilling into the open. King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s lavish lifestyle, mostly enjoyed in Germany, colourful personal history and volatile reputation have made him a figure of fear in some quarters and ridicule in others.

Protests across many provinces in 2020, defying emergency decrees in the middle of a pandemic, made oblique references to the monarchy and its power. In August, the criticism became explicit, with a series of protests taking aim not only at the structure of the monarchy and its influence in politics and military affairs but at the king personally.

Why is such criticism extremely unusual in Thailand? What laws protect the king? How are this year’s protests different from the past? And how does Harry Potter and a 500-year-old elephant battle fit into all of this?

King Maha Vajiralongkorn's coronation went for three days in May 2019. CREDIT:THAILAND'S ROYAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

Why is criticism of Thailand’s king unusual?
Because it’s effectively outlawed. A law known as lese-majeste – literally “injured majesty” – is infamous in Thailand. Article 112 of the country’s criminal code says anyone who "defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent" can be punished with a jail term of between three and 15 years. The law has been used to quell almost all criticism of the royal family.

Several countries have similar statutes on the books but Thailand’s lese-majeste law is the world’s harshest. Punishments are often imposed consecutively, meaning sentences can be decades long. Truth is often not a defence.

This is why, for generations, little has been said openly, even in private, about the king in Thailand. Guide books have warned tourists against insults.

The law has been around since 1908 but the penalties were toughened by a military junta in 1976, and the number of charges and length of sentences increased markedly in the last years of the previous king’s rule. After a coup in 2014, the junta issued an edict allowing prosecutions for liking or sharing content on social media, and there was a notorious case where a young activist was incarcerated for sharing a BBC Thai profile of Vajiralongkorn.

The king with consort Sineenat Bilaskalayani and a pet dog on a military aircraft in August 2019. CREDIT:THAILAND ROYAL HOUSEHOLD BUREAU

Who is the king?
King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known as Rama X, is the 10th monarch in the Chakri dynasty, which dates back to 1782. The family had absolute rule until a revolution in 1932.

The long reign of Vajiralongkorn’s father, Bhumibol Adulyadej, was responsible for the high regard in which the monarchy has been held. Through a series of development projects (and with the support of propaganda), he won a place in many Thai hearts and was often greeted with adoring crowds. By the end of his 70 years on the throne in 2016, he had come to be regarded by many as the “father of the nation”.

Vajiralongkorn is Bhumibol’s only son. He was a student at The King's School in Parramatta and at Duntroon, the Australian Army's officer training college, from 1972 until 1975. He was 66 when he formally assumed the throne in an elaborate, three-day ceremony in May 2019.

The Prince arrives in Sydney as an 18-year-old to begin his studies in 1970. CREDIT:ANTONY MATHEUS LINSEN

Married four times and with eight children, Vajiralongkorn’s reputation as a playboy dates back to when he was a young man. His mother even referred to him in the 1980s as “a little bit of a Don Juan”.

His first marriage, to a cousin, officially ended in 1993, although by then he had five children with the woman, a former actress, who became his second wife. That marriage lasted two years until, in 1996, she left for Britain with the children. She and their four sons were later granted asylum in the US by the Clinton administration; the daughter, now a fashion designer, was raised by her father.

The then crown prince with a fellow student at The King's School in Sydney in 1970. CREDIT:EDWARD BERESFORD

The king had a son, Prince Dipangkorn, with his third wife, Srirasmi, in 2005, who notoriously wore only a g-string in a video of a 2009 birthday party thrown for a prize poodle, Foo Foo. She was stripped of her titles in December 2014 and put under house arrest, where she remains, while seven relatives were charged with corruption and/or lese-majeste for profiting from their royal connections, and many were handed hefty jail terms.

Vajiralongkorn with his third wife, Srirasmi, and their son, Dipangkorn, at Paris Fashion Week in 2007, where his daughter showed her designs.CREDIT:GETTY IMAGES

Vajiralongkorn’s relationship with his fourth wife, a flight attendant, had been long rumoured but he surprised the world three days before his coronation by announcing they were married. He also briefly had a consort, an army officer elevated to a rank not seen since the end of absolute monarchy, but who was stripped of her titles within months.

One former palace insider says the king has a temper and makes emotional decisions. The military is closely linked to his identity, analysts say, as he values discipline, has close advisers who were in the armed forces, and bestows military ranks on favoured women.

Since coming to power, he has taken direct control of several army units, assumed personal ownership of the Crown Property Bureau’s fortune (estimated at somewhere between $40-$70 billion) and intervened in the drafting of the constitution – there have been 20 new or revised charters in Thailand since 1932 – to ensure he could spend more time in Germany. He flies back to Thailand for important occasions.

Of his reputation, when he was crown prince he said that black sheep were useful in making other sheep appear whiter.

Social critic Sulak Sivaraksa, pictured here in 2009, has been charged under lese-majeste five times.CREDIT:JOHN WOUDSTRA

Who has been charged under lese-majeste laws?
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights knows of 25 people now in jail for lese-majeste. Notable cases have included a DVD seller charged for distributing an ABC Foreign Correspondent report containing clips of Foo Foo’s scandalous birthday; Australian author Harry Nicolaides was sentenced to three years' jail, and later pardoned, over a line in a work of fiction; and a man was sentenced to 70 years, halved because he confessed, over 10 messages on Facebook.

The most attention-grabbing case was over a 500-year-old elephant battle involving a long-dead king that had been used as the basis for a series of royalist films. Social critic Sulak Sivaraksa questioned the accuracy of the Thai version of history and was charged. It took until 2018 for the king to step in and have the case quashed.

Sulak, who has beaten the charge five times, says the king not only put an end to his case but ordered a stop to lese-majeste prosecutions. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha also said the king did not want the law to be used.

It’s true there have been no new lese-majeste prosecutions since 2018; other laws have been used instead. Sedition laws and the Computer Crimes Act each carry hefty penalties and can be used for alleged offences against national security.

But that moratorium may be over: on August 13, protest leader Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak, 24, posted that he was facing a lese-majeste charge and a day later was carried away by plainclothes police on the way to a demonstration.

Protest leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak outside the criminal court in Bangkok after his release on bail on August 15.CREDIT:AP

So why are there protests now?
The abduction of government critic Wanchalearm Satsaksit, 38, from the streets of Cambodia in June was one galvanising moment. He was wanted for lese-majeste, and security footage of a black SUV taking him away went viral. His image has been a regular feature of the protests.

Economic failures during the pandemic have also hurt, while constitutional reform, student issues and LGBTQI rights are also on the agenda. The king’s long stays in Germany and lack of popular appeal have also made him a target. Also, high school and university students feature prominently, another marked change from protests of the past.

On August 10, the protesters made 10 demands for reforming the monarchy. These included the abolition of the lese-majeste law, cuts to the king’s budget, a clear delineation between crown property and the king’s personal wealth, and a requirement for the king to be accountable to Parliament as stipulated in the post-revolution constitution of 1932. No such requirement exists under the latest constitution, and royal decrees circumvent Parliament.

Thai critic Pavin Chachavalpongpun in Japan.

Academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a lese-majeste suspect who was granted refugee status in Japan and one of the three most-wanted critics of the monarchy, says the confluence of all these factors has resulted in an unprecedented opportunity to examine the monarchy’s place in Thai life. His private Facebook group for such discussion, Royalist Marketplace, has about 900,000 members and has turned Pavin into both a meme and something of an icon for the protest.

“The 10 demands have been written in a very formal, serious way,” Pavin says. “This is not just to humiliate the monarchy, this is something that can be taken to Parliament.

“I would not discredit what the students are doing right now. As someone who has been promoting serious discussion of the monarchy for so long, I must say that this is such a new phenomenon for me, too."

The government was swift to declare the protesters had “crossed the line” just by mentioning the monarchy.

A Harry-Potter themed protest on August 3, where Voldemort takes the place of the king in a gilded frame.CREDIT:GETTY IMAGES

What does Harry Potter have to do with the protests?
Because of the strict laws, criticism and gossip about the royal family has often been passed in code. Satire and the use of pop-culture references are popular, particularly online where cartoons and memes are shared widely.

On August 3, a Harry Potter-themed protest likened Vajiralongkorn to the Harry Potter villain Voldemort (He Who Must Not Be Named). This is a recent phenomenon but in character for a population that co-opted the three-finger Hunger Games salute in defiance of the 2014 coup.

A lawyer who spoke at the Harry Potter protest, Arnon Nampa, said it was time to speak about the king directly rather than in riddles. On August 7, he was dragged into a police station to be charged with several offences but not lese-majeste. Another 30 people are said to be in line to be charged and a crackdown is feared.

Protesters wave chopsticks as makeshift wands during a Harry Potter-themed rally in Bangkok on August 3.CREDIT:GETTY IMAGES

What’s next?
For a country with a long history of coups and deadly crackdowns, there are fears the latest protests could turn violent. Cabinet ministers have warned of the possibility, although the Prime Minister has urged police to show restraint.

Pavin says it is “too soon to say” whether 2020 will prove a major turning point for the Thai monarchy, however, it is clear “the students have set a new benchmark in Thai politics”. Pavin says he hopes the protests continue to gain momentum but change will only be achieved with support in political and business circles that doesn’t exist, at least for now.

Portraits of the king flanked by his late father, Bhumibol, and his mother, Sirikit, at the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 2019.CREDIT:BLOOMBERG

Michael Ruffles is the chief sub-editor of The Sydney Morning Herald.

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Thailand Q2 GDP contracts 12.2% amid COVID-induced recession
Shut borders and business lockdowns hit Southeast Asia's second-largest economy

The lack of foreign tourists has been a huge blow to Thailand's economy during the coronavirus pandemic.   © Reuters
MASAYUKI YUDA and APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT, Nikkei staff writersAugust 17, 2020 12:10 JST

BANGKOK -- Thailand recorded the largest economic contraction in 22 years in the quarter ending June, keeping Southeast Asia's second-largest economy trapped in a coronavirus-induced recession.

Gross domestic product shrank 12.2% in the second quarter compared to the same period the previous year, the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, the kingdom's economic planning agency, announced on Monday. It is the biggest contraction since 1998 when Thailand posted a 12.5% contraction recorded in the second quarter because of the Asian Financial Crisis.

On a seasonally-adjusted quarterly basis, the economy shrank by 9.7% in the April-June period, following a 0.3% contraction in the fourth quarter of 2019 and 2.5% shrinkage in the first three months of 2020. A technical recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth.

The kingdom closed its borders and implemented business lockdowns in an attempt to contain the COVID-19 epidemic. Shopping malls were forced to shutter for nearly two months from the end of March to the middle of May. Most restrictions have now been lifted and foreign visitors such as work-permit holders and their families are being allowed to enter. But the second quarter was when the economic impact of efforts to contain the pandemic was most vividly reflected.

Exports shrank by 28.3% compared with the same period last year, as spending by nonresidents, including tourists, is counted as the export of services. Due to a landing ban on international passenger flights, the kingdom had zero tourist arrivals so, naturally, zero tourist spending, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Exports of goods were subdued as well, reflecting the global economic slowdown.

Private investment fell 15.0%. Companies halted or postponed investment as fears of falling demand came true. Private consumption contracted 6.6% because of business lockdowns and a nighttime curfew, also now scrapped.

The coronavirus pandemic is expected to apply prolonged and adverse pressure on the Thai economy. The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council said it forecasts a yearly contraction of 7.3%-7.8%, with the median of down 7.5% in 2020, marking a downward revision from its previous outlook in May for GDP to shrink 5%-6% this year. The forecast this year is based on the assumption that there would be no second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its original outlook in February was for growth of 1.5% to 2.5%. The worst year for Thai economy was in 1998, when it recorded a 7.6% contraction due to the Asian Financial Crisis.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand said revenue from international visitors in 2021 under its base-case scenario could shrink to 618 billion baht ($20 billion), or about 32% of the 1.9 trillion earned in 2019. Its worst-case scenario has that revenue falling to 298 billion baht.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's administration has implemented major economic stimulus packages, including cash handouts to informal workers and domestic tourists. Prayuth also plucked new economic ministers from the private sector to steer the economy, replacing a faction led by Somkid Jatusripitak, a former deputy prime minister, that managed economic policy for nearly five years until mid-July.

Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow and Finance Minister Predee Daochai are key members of the new economic team. The two were among new ministers who took their oaths before King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Wednesday. Supattanapong was former president and CEO of PTT Global Chemical, while Predee was co-president of Kasikornbank and chairman of the Thai Bankers' Association.

Salvaging the Thai economy is an urgent task for former army general Prayuth. Discontent toward the current regime, including economic underperformance, has on Sunday fueled peaceful protests initially led by students to evolve as the largest political gathering Thailand has seen since the military staged a coup in 2014. Tens of thousands of protestors called for bold reforms, including even the country's revered monarchy.

Edited August 18, 2020 by steveluv

[steveluv]

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Thailand to extend virus emergency decree as protests swell
Activist human rights lawyer arrested on sedition charges

Students use their mobile phones as flashlights to show support for pro-democracy protests in Bangkok on Aug. 19.   © Reuters
MARIMI KISHIMOTO and YOHEI MURAMATSU, Nikkei staff writersAugust 20, 2020 02:41 JST

BANGKOK -- The Thai government indicated Wednesday it will extend its state of emergency through September in response to the country's first locally transmitted coronavirus case in nearly three months, fueling speculation that it seeks to clamp down on spreading protests.

This would mark the fifth extension of the decree, which has been in place since late March and is now set to last until the end of August. The cabinet will officially approve the move within the next few days.

The apparent first case of community transmission in 86 days was a woman who returned from Dubai in June and traveled to her hometown in northeastern Thailand after a 14-day quarantine. She tested positive in Bangkok on Tuesday before a planned trip abroad for work.

The decision comes against the backdrop of the massive student-led demonstrations of recent months. A gathering Sunday at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok drew between 20,000 and 30,000 people, according to organizers, which would make it one of the largest anti-government protests since the 2014 coup that brought Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha into power.

Some observers suspect that Prayuth's government looks to use the extended state of emergency to crack down on political gatherings. Somsak Rungsita, secretary-general of the National Security Council, denied in a Wednesday news conference that this is the case.
Anon Nampa, one of the leaders of recent anti-government protests, is detained by a police outside the criminal court in Bangkok on Aug. 19.   © Reuters

Also on Wednesday, Anon Nampa, a human rights lawyer who has played a leading role in the protests, was arrested on sedition charges, Reuters reported.

Anon was previously arrested Aug. 7 over an Aug. 3 protest, but was released on bail the following day. He continued to participate in anti-government demonstrations, calling for Prayuth's cabinet to resign and parliament to be dissolved.

Anon also urged reform of Thailand's powerful monarchy -- a taboo in a country with strict lese-majeste laws.

The previous arrest sparked outrage among Anon's supporters, and Wednesday's could bring more protesters into the ranks.