Latest news with #PheuThaiParty
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Evacuee slams Thai PM Paetongtarn for indifference
Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has visited an evacuation centre in Surin province amid escalating tension along the border with Cambodia, where she was admonished by an evacuee who blasted the government's indifference and slow reaction. Ms Paetongtarn visited this northeastern province on Sunday to offer moral support and distribute basic supplies to residents who have been displaced by the border skirmishes. However, the visit was marked by public frustration over the government's handling of the conflict, with one displaced resident confronting the suspended premier for her indifference to the plight of those affected. After arriving in Surin shortly after noon on Sunday, Ms Paetongtarn made her way to a shelter in Muang district to offer support and distribute supplies. As she arrived at the shelter, Chayanuch Choksukudom, who was displaced from her home in Kap Choeng district along the border, approached her to express her plight. However, upon stepping out of her vehicle, Ms Paetongtarn proceeded directly into the shelter, seemingly unaware of the woman's presence. An aide informed Ms Chayanuch that the premier would return to speak to her, to which she responded emotionally: 'So heartless.' Speaking to the media afterward, Ms Chayanuch expressed deep disappointment over what she perceived as the prime minister's indifference. 'I feel so hurt by Ung Ing's words,' she said, referring to the prime minister by her nickname. 'The government's handling [of the border situation] is very slow. Thai people should not die in vain. Right now, the whole country is in pain.' She urged Ms Paetongtarn to reconsider her approach. 'I want her to truly open her heart and see how much we're suffering. We understand there are interests involved, but please, think again and act anew — for the nation and its people,' Ms Chayanuch said. She was referring to critics' claim that the border flare-up was due to a personal dispute between her father Thaksin and Cambodian strongman Hun Sen — an accusation which the ruling Pheu Thai Party has denied. Ms Paetongtarn has been suspended from acting as prime minister since the beginning of this month pending a court ruling on her controversial phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. She holds a concurrent cabinet position as the culture minister.
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Pheu Thai blames scam crackdown, not family feud, for border hostilities
The Pheu Thai Party has dismissed allegations that the Thai-Cambodia border dispute stems from personal or political rivalries between the Shinawatra and Hun Sen families, instead attributing it to Phnom Penh's dissatisfaction with Thailand's aggressive crackdown on Cambodia-based online scam centres. Pheu Thai Party MP and spokesman Danuporn Punnakanta said on Sunday that the root of the issue lies in Cambodian leaders' discontent over Thailand's efforts to dismantle cross-border online scam operations based in Cambodia. He pointed to Phnom Penh's refusal to join a planned trilateral mechanism involving Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar to jointly tackle transnational cybercrime, join, claiming that it would handle the matter independently. 'It's not a conflict between individuals or political dynasties like the Shinawatra and Hun Sen families,' Mr Danuporn said. 'It's about the fallout from cybercrime suppression. Key figures in Cambodia are being affected, and there is growing evidence to support this.' He cited the Thai arrest warrant issued for Kok An, an alleged Cambodian scam-backer and casino owner who was reportedly close to Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. Authorities have also frozen significant assets and are working with Interpol to pursue international legal action against those involved. Mr Danuporn said although the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border remains tense, Thai security agencies are in full control and have put in place comprehensive measures to ensure public safety and defuse the situation. He stressed that the government remains committed to resolving the issue peacefully through established bilateral channels. The Foreign Ministry has set up a task force to assess international impacts, coordinate with embassies, and prepare humanitarian measures should the fighting linger. 'The government places great importance on diplomacy in easing tensions, and we want the public to rest assured that we are addressing the issue on all fronts—security, military, diplomatic, and the protection of people's lives and property—all of which are top priorities for the government,' said the Pheu Thai spokesman.
Bangkok Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Thaksin: Let military ‘complete their mission'
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra denies a family feud is behind the Thai-Cambodian border conflict, saying the military must be given a free hand to 'complete their mission' before any talks can take place. Speaking during a visit to Ubon Ratchathani to support civilians displaced by the clashes, Thaksin insisted the recent deadly skirmishes between Thai and Cambodian forces were not caused by a personal dispute between political families, as widely speculated. He was referring to the apparent rift between his family and that of former Cambodian premier Hun Sen, which flared following a leaked audio clip in which Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was heard pleading with Hun Sen, saying she would do anything in return for a cessation of the conflict. Thaksin, who turned 76 on Saturday, rejected claims of political interference and said military operations should proceed professionally and independently. 'I deny this is a conflict between two families. There was never any personal dispute,' he said. 'This incident stems from Cambodia's dissatisfaction with Thailand. We did nothing to provoke this.' Wile some foreign governments had offered to mediate — among them Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in his capacity as Asean chair — Thailand believes the issue could be resolved bilaterally, said Thaksin. 'If Cambodia wants to talk, we'll talk. But we don't need intermediaries unless absolutely necessary,' said Thaksin. 'Let the armed forces complete their mission. This is a military operation, and although some have called for a ceasefire, now is not the right time. The mission isn't over.' Thaksin, who is seen as the de facto leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, has raised his profile over the past two weeks at a time when the government nominally headed by his daughter appears leaderless and adrift. Ms Paetongtarn has been suspended from the prime ministership pending a Constitutional Court ruling on whether her handling of the call with Hun Sen was a breach of ethics. Critics say Thaksin regularly interferes in government affairs despite being a non-party member. That would constitute a legal offence, if proven. While visiting evacuees in Det Udom municipality, Thaksin said his purpose was to comfort those displaced by the conflict. 'He doesn't help Thai people' A tense moment arose at the municipality when a local woman identified as Miew approached Thaksin, shouting: 'If you're friends, why did you let your friend kill Thais?' Ms Miew said she had relatives displaced from Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket and blamed Thaksin for not preventing the conflict, despite his longstanding relationship with Hun Sen. 'He doesn't help Thai people, only his own family. We've been abandoned. I didn't come here expecting him to take responsibility — he never listens to people like us.' She later told reporters in English that she was saddened by the suffering of her fellow citizens and accused Thaksin of siding with Cambodia. 'If he's still supporting Hun Sen, the war won't end. Our people are helping their side.' Following the confrontation, security officers escorted Ms Miew out of the building. Thaksin emerged from a restroom only after she had left, defusing what had become a brief but emotionally charged disruption.
Bangkok Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Actions speak louder than words
Actions speak louder than words The ruling Pheu Thai Party and the main opposition People's Party (PP) have found themselves idle targets of critics for singing the same tune in the aftermath of the June 28 mass rally in central Bangkok. Both were accused of throwing caution to the wind after suggesting the rally at the Victory Monument -- which sought suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's resignation over her leaked phone conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen -- could spark a military revolt. In what Ms Paetongtarn described as a private conversation, she was heard pleading with Hun Sen to help her out as she was under immense public pressure for appearing to cave in to Cambodia in the intensifying border conflict. The premier came across as being subservient to the Cambodian strongman and went so far as to offer to do what she could in return for Hun Sen's help. The manner and substance of the phone call triggered public uproar, with Ms Paetongtarn being branded by opponents as unpatriotic and a traitor. Collective anger drove tens of thousands to flock to the Victory Monument, one of the city's busiest transit interchanges, in a mass demonstration organised by the so-called United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty group on June 28. Rally speakers, several of whom were well-known co-leaders of past mass protests under banners such as the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), took turns attacking Ms Paetongtarn's ineptitude and inadequacy as premier. The next day, Pheu Thai and PP politicians separately chastised some protest leaders for speaking agreeably about a military coup being staged in the event of political deadlock. Opposition and PP leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut expressed concern about the rally, fearing the protests could be used as a pretext for a coup. Mr Natthaphong said he believed the demonstrators were acting in good faith, driven by a desire to see a change of prime minister. He went on to say that there were various legitimate ways to bring about such change, including the prime minister's resignation, impeachment through parliamentary procedures, or the prime minister dissolving the House and calling an election. However, he also noted the risk of change occurring through undemocratic means, such as a coup d'état. "Even if the protesters are acting sincerely, it is concerning that certain protest leaders may exploit the situation to advocate for extra-constitutional measures. "Many of the current protest leaders are familiar faces who have previously opposed elected governments and played roles in past coups," the PP leader said. He pointed out that although no direct call for a coup was made from the protest stage, the speakers also failed to explicitly reject the possibility. The opposition leader is believed to have referred specifically to one speaker, Sondhi Limthongkul, who is a former leader of the now-defunct PAD. "Some rhetoric leaves the door open to the idea -- suggesting that if a coup were to occur, they would simply prefer that the new prime minister not be from the military. That ambiguity raises red flags," he said. However, Mr Natthaphong's comments were immediately shot down by Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, a former election commissioner, in a critical post on his Facebook page "Pun Pai Nai – Somchai Srisutthiyakorn". He warned that while political actors publicly denounce coups, they themselves must also actively engage in democratic processes to resolve national issues, instead of allowing protests to spiral into movements that invite military intervention. "The [June 28] protest ignited like a wildfire," Mr Somchai wrote, "and it's been condemned by both Pheu Thai and the PP as a veiled invitation for a coup, particularly following remarks made by Mr Sondhi on stage." Mr Somchai praised the public's stance against coups, pointing out that the nine years following the last one proved that military intervention failed to take care of the country's issues. However, the former poll commissioner hit out at parties that denounce coups while neglecting to take real action through democratic means. Back in March, the opposition parties filed a no-confidence motion against the premier for dishonesty over tax evasion allegations involving PN (promissory notes) worth more than 200 million baht, allegedly used within her family without a repayment date or interest. Despite losing the no-confidence vote, Mr Somchai noted, the opposition (specifically, the PP) failed to follow up by petitioning the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) or the Constitutional Court to assess Ms Paetongtarn's eligibility to hold office. Also, following the leaked audio clip with Hun Sen -- where she referred to the 2nd Army Region commander in charge of the Thai-Cambodian border as an "opponent" -- Mr Somchai said the proper response would have been for Ms Paetongtarn to resign. Yet, she remained in office, he added. Following Bhumjaithai's withdrawal from the coalition, criticism mounted over Ms Paetongtarn's conduct during the cabinet reshuffle process. Despite this, the coalition parties chose not to withdraw from the government. When Bhumjaithai, which is now in the opposition, attempted to initiate a fresh no-confidence motion, it failed because it did not have the 99 MP signatures required to do so. Mr Somchai faulted the PP for not supporting the motion, citing their excuse that such motions shouldn't be filed too frequently. "If you don't want people to take to the streets and risk inviting a coup, political actors must show true commitment to democratic solutions rather than rely on empty slogans or collusion. "You can't just repeat the same lines about dissolving parliament or do you want people to believe in the existence of the 'Hong Kong Declaration'," Mr Somchai said. The "Hong Kong Declaration" has to do with alleged political deals or secret meetings that supposedly took place in Hong Kong involving former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is thought to wield tremendous power in Pheu Thai, and political figures reportedly including Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, founder of the Future Forward Party, a precursor of the PP. The meetings are believed to have shaped the formation of the current government, according to sources. A battle for survival Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been making increasingly frequent media appearances, with the most notable being "Unlocking Thailand's Future", hosted by veteran news commentator Veera Teerapat. Veera confronted Thaksin with a question about the "secret deal" widely believed to have enabled him to return to Thailand after 17 years of self-imposed exile. The question appeared to touch a raw nerve, with Thaksin appearing stunned for a moment before replying that there was "no political deal whatsoever with anyone". Thaksin, generally considered the de facto leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, returned from self-imposed exile on Aug 22, 2023. That same day, the Supreme Court sentenced him to eight years in prison -- three years in total from two cases and a further five years in a third case. The sentence was later reduced to one year following royal clemency. Thaksin has been actively engaged in politics after his one-year jail term ended. Olarn Thinbangtieo, a political science lecturer at Burapha University, said Thaksin spoke as truthfully as he could in the interview with Veera except over the secret deal, which, according to several observers, will remain a myth. Thaksin's message, despite being cornered by the host, is that a future alliance between Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai looks increasingly unlikely, even after the next general election, said Mr Olarn. Following Bhumjaithai's exit from the Pheu Thai-led coalition, the political rivalry between the two parties will intensify with both sides trying to present themselves as a strong force to challenge the progressive People's Party (PP). According to Mr Olarn, Thaksin sees himself as indispensable to Thai politics and is signalling that both he and Pheu Thai are better suited to working with the conservative camp than Bhumjaithai. Bhuimjaithai currently faces legal troubles relating to alleged vote-rigging in the Senate polls, and the party could be dissolved if found guilty. For this reason, the conservative bloc had better stick with Pheu Thai as it has already proven it can work without Bhumjaithai, dubbed the "blue" party, according to the analyst. The blue party is under intense pressure as several senior members have been implicated in the Senate election scandal. More than 100 senators are suspected of having ties with Bhumjaithai and are called the blue faction within the Upper House. According to Election Commission (EC) chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong, a subcommittee has completed a probe and submitted its findings to the EC for review, with the EC secretary general to provide opinions to the EC. The review process takes 60 days before it is deliberated by a subcommittee on disputes and arguments, which can take up to 90 days. A final decision by the EC could take as long as nine months. However, Thaksin and his daughter, suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, have their own legal troubles to overcome. Thaksin has two cases: one involves his prolonged stay at the Police General Hospital (PGH) until his parole, in what is seen as a ruse to avoid serving prison time, and the other is a lese majeste case for remarks he made during a 2015 interview with South Korean media while in self-imposed exile. The PGH case is under review by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, while the lese majeste case is scheduled for a ruling on Aug 22, the second anniversary of his return. Ms Paetongtarn, meanwhile, faces a Constitutional Court decision related to the leaked conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, which could determine whether she has violated political ethics. A ruling is expected by mid-August. The fate of both father and daughter will be known by the end of August at the latest, according to observers. Mr Olarn said both Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai are competing fiercely for the support of the conservative bloc, and they believe they are in a better position to serve conservative interests. Pheu Thai is aggressively pushing for Bhumjaithai's dissolution, hoping to welcome many of its MPs to boost its chances in an election. However, the future looks grim, especially for Ms Paetongtarn, even if she resigns before the Constitutional Court rules on the leaked phone call case. Legal experts believe she still faces the strong possibility of an extended, if not a lifetime, political ban stemming from several criminal complaints currently lodged with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Criminal Court. These include cases involving illegal land encroachment in Khao Yai, irregularities related to the Alpine golf course, and the questionable use of promissory notes for share transfers. Any of these could result in a five-year to 10-year, or even lifetime ban from politics. Should Thaksin be sent back to prison and Ms Paetongtarn be banned from politics, Pheu Thai could collapse entirely. In such a scenario, many of its MPs could defect to Bhumjaithai since both parties rely on political family networks for support, according to Mr Olarn. "All of this now rests in the hands of the conservative bloc. It depends on which party they choose to trust more -- Pheu Thai or Bhumjaithai," Mr Olarn said.
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Thailand Recalls Ambassador to Cambodia Amid Border Tensions, Ruling Party Says
BANGKOK, July 23 (Reuters) – Thailand has recalled its ambassador to Cambodia and will expel Cambodia's ambassador, the ruling Pheu Thai Party said on Wednesday following a landmine incident that injured a Thai soldier along the disputed border between the two countries. The Thai Foreign Ministry has lodged a formal protest with Cambodia, saying the landmines found in the area were newly deployed and had not been encountered during previous patrols, the party said on social media. Thailand has downgraded diplomatic relations with Cambodia, it said. Cambodia's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its government spokesperson referred Reuters to the foreign ministry. Thailand's foreign ministry said it had yet to be informed of the decision to recall the Thai envoy and the plan to expel Cambodia's ambassador. The government has also ordered the closure of all border checkpoints under the jurisdiction of Thailand's Second Army, the Pheu Thai Party said. 'Tourists are strictly prohibited from entering these border areas,' it said. In the landmine incident on Wednesday, the soldier sustained injuries and lost his right leg, the party said. Earlier, Thailand accused Cambodia of placing landmines on the Thai side of the disputed border area after three soldiers were injured, but Phnom Penh denied the claim and said the soldiers had veered off agreed routes and triggered a mine left behind from decades of war. Thai authorities said the soldiers were injured, with one losing a foot, by a landmine while on a patrol on July 16 on the Thai side of the disputed border area between Ubon Ratchathani and Cambodia's Preah Vihear Province. Cambodia's foreign ministry denied that new mines had been planted, and said in a statement on Monday night that the Thai soldiers deviated from agreed patrol routes into Cambodian territory and into areas that contain unexploded landmines. The country is littered with landmines laid during decades of war.
