Post mortem: Airport security law

Airport guards to get power to counter mobs
By: Bangkok Post
Published: 28/01/2009 at 03:39 PM
Security guards employed by Airports of Thailand will be given the authority to detain troublemakers before handing them over to the police.

Tougher safety measures are being considered for all major airports in Thailand after the seizure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang facilities by People’s Alliance for Democracy supporters.

The draft was backed by the Transport Ministry and proposed to the cabinet in an effort to prevent further damaging political protests at the country’s major gateways and improve safety for tourists.

People creating problems within the perimeters of an airport could be forcibly detained by the AoT’s security guards and must be handed over to police within 24 hours.

Fines of up to 10,000 baht could be imposed on people found guilty of causing problems.

The transport minister would take charge of enforcing the new law. The minister will have full authority to issue ministerial regulations on safety measures at the airports and ensure convenience for travellers and staff.

The minister has the right to set up committees to oversee the implementation of the safety measures at the airports.

Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the draft bill would be submitted to the Council of State before being forwarded to parliament for approval. The cabinet did not set a time frame for the passage of the law.

“I think having such a law will bring a measure of confidence. Many more foreigners will soon be travelling here,” Mr Panitan said.

Suvarnabhumi airport deputy director Prateep Vijittho said the planned law would authorise security guards to also crack down on intruders.

Somsak Kosaisuk, a PAD leader, said the planned law could violate basic human rights as it remained unclear how demonstrations would be dealt with.

“Issuing such a law is nonsensical. It’s the wrong solution. In fact, the government should focus more on solving the people’s problems,” Mr Somsak said.

Transport Minister Sopon Zarum said transport authorities had also worked out safety measures, especially for Suvarnabhumi airport. These would include the construction of four permanent checkpoints to screen visitors outside the airport compound.

Well, people would be wondering what to do with the past one and if this is a prevention of retaliation. Anyway, when we have a trip in March, I will be happy to report the general situation of tourist after four months of airport seizure.

Filed under: Political Sciences

Zantika singer from “Burn,” charged in pub fire.

Sarawut Ariya, singer of “Burn” the band the was playing at Zantika before the fire were charged and arrest for negligence, resulting in death, bodily and mentally harm. He was convicted to be the one who light the firework inside the premise.

Chongrak Chuthanon confirmed that the singer was not a scapegoat. He also reportedly suggested that the fire was not from pyro technic but from the firework that the singer probably brought into and lit in the pub.

Matichon also reported that Chonrak denied that a police officer who are shareholder (who were using Mr…. instead of actual police range) in the pub is not within his jurisdiction.

From Matichon: http://www.matichon.co.th/news_detail.php?newsid=1233061857&grpid=01&catid=17

Filed under: Political Sciences, zantika aftermath

Matichon confirmed The Economist not available

Recent confirmation made public in Thai by Matichon in case you do not receive the letter from the Economist.

วันที่ 26 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2552 เวลา 19:14:20 น. มติชนออนไลน์

“ดิอีโคโนมิสต์”งดขายในไทยหวั่นข้อเขียนกระทบสถาบัน

สำนักข่าวรอยเตอร์รายงานว่า เมื่อวันที่ 26 มกราคมกองบรรณาธิการนิตยสาร ดิ “อีโคโนมิสต์” ของอังกฤษ ได้ส่งจดหมายอิเล็กทรอนิกส์หรืออี-เมล แจ้งต่อสมาชิกของนิตยสารที่พำนักอยู่ในประเทศไทยได้รับทราบว่า ผู้แทนจำหน่ายนิตยสารดังกล่าวในเมืองไทยตัดสินใจงดจำหน่าย ดิ อีโคโนมิสต์ประจำสัปดาห์ล่าสุด เนื่องจากหวั่นเกรงว่า ข้อเขียนว่าด้วยกฎหมายหมิ่นพระบรมเดชานุภาพในฉบับล่าสุดอาจก่อให้เกิดปัญหาได้ ถือเป็นครั้งที่ 2 ในรอบ 2 เดือนที่ผ่านมาที่งดจำหน่ายเฉพาะในเมืองไทยด้วยเหตุผลคล้ายคลึงกัน

ทางด้านเอเอฟพีรายงานอ้างความเห็นของเจ้าหน้าที่ระดับสูงในกระทรวงยุติธรรมผู้หนึ่ง เปิดเผยว่า กระทรวงมีแนวคิดเสนอขออนุมัติคณะรัฐมนตรี เพื่อให้การศึกษาชาวต่างประเทศเกี่ยวกับกฎหมายหมิ่นพระบรมเดชานุภาพ เพราะมีความเข้าใจผิดอย่างมาก และมักเข้าใจว่าเป็นความผิดลหุโทษ ทั้งๆ ที่ กฎหมายนี้มีโทษจำคุกสูงสุดถึง 15 ปี

So they confirm in writing. Can the police rip those pages out if they want to have our people unaware. Soon there will be free copy spreading over the internet.

Is this the thing that the people here and those who are interested in the case haven’t known already? But the current of the pro lese majeste thing is so strong that you did not want to, umm, put them in print, yet leave it available on the internet.

So yes, after the announcement by matichon, more and more people would flock to the website, later someone would be kind enough to post a translation in popular underground web. A move well appreciated by those who want to know but may not feel comfortable reading the article in English.

Hey I want to read the boat people, too.

The article is still available, bright and shinny in Asia section, so read and entertain yourself while you can and do not forget boat people. There is nothing new, again, that people who want to know would not know it. By the way the Economist also feature Gile’s blog. (http://wdpress.blog.co.uk/)

Filed under: Political Sciences, Free speech

Money, Asahi interview and the thai media again

After a correction at the Nation, this morning Matichon still has its online headline “Peua Thai admit lack of support after Maew’s financial drain”

Thanks for doing further investigative report without reading Asahi’s interview.

พท.รับ”ทักษิณ”ตัดท่อน้ำเลี้ยง

พ.อ.อภิวันท์ วิริยะชัย รองประธานสภาผู้แทนราษฎร คนที่ 2 แกนนำพรรคเพื่อไทย(พท.) กล่าวว่า ไม่ได้รู้สึกวิตกกังวลอะไร เพราะพ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ ไม่ได้สนับสนุนทางการเงินให้กับพรรคมานานแล้ว สมาชิกพรรคเพื่อไทยจะต้องพยายามทำพรรคให้เป็นองค์กรที่เข้มแข็ง ด้วยการไม่ทอดทิ้งพรรคในยามที่ตกยาก แต่ยอมรับว่า การประกาศของพ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ มีผลกระทบต่อพรรคบ้าง เพราะพรรคเพื่อไทยเกิดจากพรรคไทยรักไทย มาเป็นพรรคพลังประชาชน ซึ่งมีกระแสของพ.ต.ท.ทักษิณเป็นตัวสร้างพรรค เพื่อพ.ต.ท.ทักษิณหยุด สมาชิกพรรคก็ต้องสร้างพรรคให้เป็นปึกแผ่นให้ได้ แต่ยอมรับว่าเหนื่อย เพราะบุคคลากรถูกตัดสิทธิไปมาก

นายพายัพ ชินวัตร ส.ส.เชียงใหม่ น้องชายพ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ กล่าวว่า หากพรรคเพื่อไทยเปรียบต้นมะม่วงที่เวลาโตแล้ว ไม่ต้องใช้น้ำก็โตด้วยตัวของมันเองได้ แม้หากไม่มีน้ำหล่อเลี้ยงมาก มันก็ยังออกผลได้ หรือยิ่งไม่มีน้ำมันก็ต้องยิ่งออกผลเร็วกว่าเดิม วันนี้ยืนยันว่าพรรคเพื่อไทยยังแข็งแรงอยู่ไม่ต้องห่วง ไม่ได้เกิดขึ้นมาด้วยสิ่งนั้น ที่มาบอกว่าพ.ต.ท.ทักษิณไม่มีเงินนั้น ความจริงแล้วการเมืองไม่ต้องใช้ตังค์เท่าไหร่

ผู้สื่อข่าวถามถึงกรณีที่ได้รับเชิญให้ดำรงตำแหน่งประธานที่ปรึกษาคณะกรรมการประสานงานภาคอีสาน พรรคเพื่อไทย นายพายัพ กล่าวว่า ไม่ขอพูด แต่ให้รอดูการประชุมส.ส.ของพรรคในวันที่ 27 มกราคม “ถ้าผมจะเข้าไปช่วยภาคอีสาน ผมจะไม่ทำแค่ดูแลหรือให้คำปรึกษาอย่างเดียว แต่จะต้องช่วยให้สำเร็จ เพราะถ้าทำแล้วไม่สำเร็จก็จะไม่ทำเลย”

“เสื้อแดง”เล็งดึง”ทุนนอก”หนุน

นายณัฐวุฒิ ใสยเกื้อ อดีตโฆษกประจำสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี แกนนำกลุ่มคนเสื้อแดง กล่าวถึงกรณีที่ พ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ ระบุว่าอยู่ในภาวะลำบาก ว่าทำให้แกนนำกลุ่มคนเสื้อแดงสงสารและเห็นใจพ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ มากขึ้นกับชะตากรรมที่ใครไม่เจอกับตัวจะไม่มีทางรู้ ซึ่งถ้าพ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ ได้รับโอกาสจากคนบางกลุ่มในสังคมสักครึ่งหนึ่งที่นายกรัฐมนตรีได้รับ คงจะสามารถทำงานให้กับประเทศไทยได้อีกมาก แต่น่าเสียดายที่คนบางกลุ่มในสังคมไทยกลับเห็นว่า งานไม่ดีแต่มีเส้นเด่นกว่าพวกงานเด่นแต่เส้นไม่มี

นายณัฐวุฒิ กล่าวว่า การที่พ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ ประสบปัญหาทางการเงิน ไม่ได้ส่งผลกระทบใดๆ กับคนเสื้อแดง เพราะไม่ว่าพ.ต.ท.ทักษิณจะมีเงินอีกหรือไม่ แต่ถ้ามีหัวใจประชาธิปไตย พ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ ก็จะได้รับการสนับสนุนจากคนเสื้อแดงในฐานะผู้ร่วมอุดมการณ์คนหนึ่งอย่างแน่นอน และที่ผ่านมาก็ไม่ได้รับเงินจากพ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ ในการเคลื่อนไหว

“การผลิตเครื่องดื่มความจริงวันนี้อย่างเดียวเพื่อเป็นทุนสนับสนุนการเคลื่อนไหวคงไม่พอ แกนนำจะส่งตัวแทนไปประสานงานกับองค์กรประชาธิปไตยระดับนานาชาติหลายองค์กร เพื่อขอความสนับสนุนการเคลื่อนไหวของกลุ่มเสื้อแดง เพราะขณะนี้ทั้งโลกรับรู้เป็นอย่างดีว่า อำนาจนอกระบบได้เข้ามาแทรกแซงความเป็นประชาธิปไตยของประเทศไทย แต่ไม่ได้คาดหวังว่าจะเอาเงินนอกประเทศ มาล้มล้างประเทศไทย”นายณัฐวุฒิ กล่าว

Interestingly, Nattawut Saigeua claimed that the red shirt movement will seek international support to back u as it is internationally understood that external power had interfered with thai democracy, despite the fact that foreign support/money will not be used to destroy the country. If we had “democracy” at any time during the past 60 something years I would be surprised. He also posited thaksin as someone who deserve support only if he is democratic and deny any previous support from thaksin. Other members of the former strain of Thai Rak Thai denied that they have used or benefited from money politic.

Well, what can I say about the thai mainstream media.

Filed under: Political Sciences, politics, thai politics, Thaksin

The cons of being a general Thai

Two cases in a row, one is pending amnesty, the other is positioning the case as academic freedom.

when normal bloggers and citizens faced the charge, that charge, they merely went to prison. Some were prevent to be released on bail during trial. Some Thais were left to rot in prison, and they do not have any access form any embassy to help handling a petition.There are no academic friends to sign a letter of support. You merely rely on the freedom of expression, which is not free and the cost of it would have nothing to deal respected institutions.

the gag is here. there are other people left in prison because of the same charge (i.e. ms. da torpido, who had been imprisoned without any chance she would be granted a temporary release.)

I do agree that the “coup for the rich” should be posited as academic freedom and that it will not override general freedom of general public like you and me to write and to talk, mainly about the coup and other elements concern it. Things like what people who face the charge were working on or speaking about is dangerous not because it is offensive, but it is convincing enough they do not want people to be uninformed about it. The free copies spread all over the internet if you would like to read. Better than that you don’t have to pay to read. What the government is doing is to push everything more and more underground and alienate people who want to talk well ground facts. and frankly, the one who is to blame on those writing are not the one they claimed to protect.

You know too many gossip has been around these days, gross and offensive, suffice to have the people could be sued of defamation, but who care about those. They got freedom of expression while thai citizens who came forth and speak, in case of a general thai citizen Ms. Da and other, who gave a sound and reasonable expression, is still in Bang Kwang Prison.

The right to write and research is a human right, while the world is keeping their watch on the two with some additional entitlement to speak and be protected, please do not forget that general people may even be more vulnerable.

Filed under: Political Sciences, Free speech

money money money

Warning: The article expressed information quoted originally from Matichon and Manager. Attempts to verify international resources had been quickly conducted, yet additional information to triangulate had not been found. Update on this controversial topic will be provided and any help to verify this information would be appreciated. Will not stop until original article/report can be found.
——————————————————–

Matichon cited the above source that Thaksin can not give financial support to Peua Thai and other supporters, citing rather difficult financial condition and the overall downturn. He speculated that the party still support him. The source was “เว็บไซต์ผู้จัดการออนไลน์รายงานเมื่อค่ำ วันที่ 22 มกราคม อ้างหนังสือพิมพ์อาซาฮี” Manager online, citing Asahi on the night of 22 January.

The English version of the report has been published by the [real] Nation.

พ.ต.ท.ทักษิณกล่าวว่า คาดว่า พรรคเพื่อไทยที่ปัจจุบันเป็นพรรคฝ่ายค้านจะยังให้สนับสนุนตนอยู่ แต่ ในบรรยากาศเช่นนี้ตนไม่สามารถให้การสนับสนุนทางการเมืองกับพรรคใดๆ ได้แและจากสถานะทางการเงินที่ยากลำบากในปัจจุบันทำให้ไม่สามารถจะให้การสนับสนุนทางการเงินกับผู้สนับสนุนตนและพรรคเพื่อไทยได้

Anyway, if this is not a diversion from that fact that he had been supporting his supporters or a decoy to leave him alone without investigation on his ‘external’ influence. Futhermore, it could greatly legitimate the movement of the people who had been claimed to be bought as a new social movement in search of democracy rather than personal profit. We cannot be bought because the boss said he could not support us.

It could come to well…

what is the title of that book?

i guess it is something like “no money, no honey.”

Filed under: Political Sciences

The toll

The cost, opps, casualties estimate by deep south watch has been published in English.

Bangkok – The five-year-old conflict in Thailand’s deep South has cost the state an estimated 109 billion baht (3.1 billion dollars) and lost 3,287 lives, an independent study revealed Monday.
Deep South Watch, an independent research group that monitors the conflict, has put the southern death toll over the last five years of violence at 3,287 lives, of whom 1,788 were Thai Muslims and 1,348 Thai Buddhists, with another 5,405 people wounded, The Nation newspaper reported.
With an average of 1,956 incidents of violence reported yearly, the group estimated the government spends 88 million baht (2.5 million dollars) per incident, or a total budget of 109 billion baht over the last five years.
Although the number of violent incidents dropped 50 per cent last year, the severity increased, leading observers to conclude that the conflict has reached a stalemate requiring new government initiatives.
Of the 300,000 Thai Buddhists who used to inhabit the region, some 70,000 have left since 2004, said the study.
Violence in Thailand’s three southernmost, majority Muslim provinces – Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala – escalated after separatists raided an army depot in January 2004, killing four soldiers and making off with 300 weapons.
The incident sparked a series of brutal government crackdowns on the region’s long-simmering separatist movement, which turned much of the 2 million population, 80 per cent of whom are Muslim, against the central government.
The region has been ruled since October 2005 under emergency law, granting authorities immunity in their pursuit of insurgents and leading to numerous reports of torture and deaths in detention, according to Amnesty International.
Newly appointed Thai Prime Minister Abhist Vejjajiva has made the southern problem one of his government’s priorities.
Over the weekend, Abhist led an official visit to the region and vowed to investigate claims of torture and abuses of power. He has launched a review of the effectiveness of the emergency decree in solving the long-festering conflict.
With nearly 45 per cent of Thailand’s armed forces based in the three provinces, there is a perception that the military have added to the tension, especially as they enjoy immunity under the emergency decree.
Although the region, which centuries ago was the independent Islamic sultanate of Pattani, was conquered by Bangkok about 200 years ago, it has never wholly submitted to Thai rule.
Analysts claim the region’s population, the majority of whom speak a Malay dialect, follow Malay customs and practice Islam, feel deeply alienated from the predominantly Buddhist Thai state. (DPA via Monsters and Critics)

However, the Foreign minister complained that too much military presence and checkpoints would make the area looks like Gaza. Well, what about people’s perception of insecurity of being attack when they are near the “security force.” The emergency decree would stay. would this make the south even more Gaza-like according to Mr. Kasit?

Filed under: Political Sciences

Emergency decree in the south to stay.

Prawit defends use of emergency law
Minister points to 50% drop in violent attacks

By: Wassana Nanuam and Muhammad Ayub Pathan
Published: 16/01/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan on Thursday defended the government’s use of the emergency decree and martial law to quell violence in the far South.

His remarks came after local and religious leaders questioned the cabinet’s decision to extend the decree for three months in the southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. The decree, first imposed in 2005 by the Thaksin Shinawatra administration, permits authorities to detain suspects without charge and protects officials against legal prosecution for their actions while on duty.

Gen Prawit said a 50% drop in violent incidents last year came as a result of the imposition of the emergency decree and martial law in the South.

The two laws were compatible with each other for the greater efficiency in dealing with the South issue, he said.

“Martial law does more good than harm because the situation has improved. We are on the right track, given last year’s halving of violent attacks from the previous year,” Gen Prawit said, adding that the locals backed the enforcement of martial law.

The defence minister admitted that the situation in the far South was a long way from normal. Field officials would update Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on the situation during his visit to the region tomorrow, he said.

Security has been tightened to ensure safety for Mr Abhisit’s visit, which is aimed at gaining first-hand information.

Asked about the Amnesty International report on the torture of suspected southern insurgents by Thai authorities, Gen Prawit said there had been no military reports on such matters.

Senior officers have always instructed their subordinates to look after the people, not hurt them, he said.

Col Prinya Chaidilok, chief of the public relations centre of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, dismissed the possibility of cruel abuse of suspected militants by soldiers.

His comment came after a controversial clip on video-sharing website YouTube, which showed three men in military uniform taking turns physically assaulting and shouting obscenities at a young man, who appeared to be Muslim. No detailed information on who shot the clip, or the time and place it was recorded, was shown.

Col Prinya said brutality was not the army’s policy.

“According to the Fourth Army chief, security forces must not violate human rights; they are there to help improve people’s quality of life,” he said.

“We seek help from the Foreign Ministry to correct misunderstandings about the clip among the world community.” (Emphasis added)

So at least three months we will likely still see the same old decree in the south. Because the army think it would reduce the number of violence, who would care about quality of life of people and the seeds of discontent.

So the state paid vacation in a training center and things would never easily change without much emphasis from the government.

Yes, I also heard about Rohingya refugees.

Filed under: Political Sciences

New UDD marketing niche

These could be perfect for egg bombs. Better than that you can give them to homeless, if they still want ones.

Thanks Matichon for photo.

Filed under: Political Sciences

nine-nine-nine

As a result of the alarming “violation” of certain aspect of criminal code, the brand new website and postbox had been launched so that you can send direct information to protect the king.

Since anyone can report, then the officers might have to spend a lot of time rechecking the website and other messages, I only hope that it is enjoyable for them to do so. Hopefully, most cases would turned out to be something that cannot even be brought to legal procedure, anyway, legal procedure is not always what they wanted.

This website would be a good apparatus to silence political adversaries, people who think different and those who still struggle to enjoy narrowing freedom of expression (since most people blogging without academic career will be considered that they may rely on freedom of expression- at large, as oppose to academic freedom, hey but researching is everyone’s right.)

It is obvious that last time the list of website that violate “the law” are partly tainted by lawful comments against the democrat, so I hope that the commission set to monitor this phenomenon will not repeat itself.

I also consider that the Democrat party of thailand may want to change its name.

Filed under: Political Sciences, Free speech, lese majeste