Latest news with #SupremeAdministrativeCourt
CNA
4 days ago
- General
- CNA
Changes to Thailand's strict school rules welcome, but deeper issues persist
BANGKOK: As the new school year in Thailand enters its second week, students are finally getting what some feel are long-overdue changes. Crew cuts for boys and bobs for girls have been part of a regimental practice that has persisted for decades in Thai schools, after a directive was issued in 1975 when the country was governed by a military dictatorship. This has been strictly enforced by some school personnel. Videos of them haphazardly cutting students' overly long hair during morning assemblies, often in a jagged, uneven way, can be easily found circulating online. But over the last decade, some schools across the country have gradually relaxed their hairstyle rules. This includes allowing girls to have long hair, for instance. Inspired by university students who took a leading role in Thailand's pro-democracy protests of the 2020s, some student activists also filed a legal petition against the directive, arguing that it was unconstitutional and infringed on their human dignity. Thailand's Supreme Administrative Court ruled in their favour earlier this year, finding that mandating how students should wear their hair violated individual rights and is out of touch with today's society. The court decision was met with mostly positive feedback. GAP REMAINS Still, some like Laponpat 'Min' Wangpaisit, who was part of the movement behind the push for reform five years ago, cautioned that there is still a gap in the passing of the verdict and its actual enforcement. Schools are now supposed to agree with students and parents on what standard to follow, which could mean sticking to the 50-year-old one or being more lenient. 'No one has said it's prohibited to issue (any) regulations restricting student hairstyles. No one says schools are not allowed to interfere with students' hair. That simply doesn't exist,' said Laponpat, who is now studying in university. Laponpat added that if the education ministry wants to protect students' rights, it must clearly ban any interference with their hair, not just leave it up to schools. 'Equality isn't about restricting everyone the same way. It's about not restricting anyone's rights in the first place.' As attitudes and rules about school uniforms shift slightly, some shops selling uniforms have also been affected. A new directive by Thailand's education ministry now exempts students from having to wear Scout uniforms about once a week, in order to relieve parents of the financial burden of buying them. Each uniform costs about 1,300 baht (US$40). Bangkok shopkeeper Surapong Setteamee said that business had already been slow before the rule change. 'It's been very quiet this year, unlike the others. The shop would normally be full of customers, but it's been slow this year,' he told CNA. QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN QUESTION Despite a quiet revolution taking root this new school year, some experts said shortcomings remain in Thailand's education system. 'Schools are very strict when it comes to checking students' uniforms. But during the six hours that students are in class, can schools truly say they're providing high-quality education?' questioned Athapol Anunthavorasakul, director of Chulalongkorn University's Center for Educational Research and Development for Sustainable Development. A significant amount of government funds is allocated to the education ministry every year - about 10 per cent of the annual budget - but that has not translated into better performance by Thai students. In the last Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test in 2022, which is conducted worldwide by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Thai students scored below the OECD average in reading, mathematics and science. They also did worse than students in neighbouring Malaysia and Vietnam. In terms of creative thinking, Thailand scored significantly below the OECD average. Critics have pointed to the core curriculum not being updated in over 15 years, the emphasis on passive rote learning over critical thinking and creativity, and an understaffed and overworked body of teachers. Thailand's education ministry did not respond to CNA's requests for a comment. 'Nowadays, both national and international assessment results clearly show that the quality of Thai education is declining across all dimensions, whether its competency measured by PISA exams, language proficiency, or even civic knowledge,' said Athapol. He urged education authorities to focus on improving educational standards instead of punishing uniform violations, such as deducting points for incorrect attire or barring students from taking exams for not wearing them. While these kinds of shifts take time, the fact that the changes are already underway are a positive sign, said Athapol. 'Norms are created by humans, so humans can change them. They're not meant to last forever.'
NDTV
22-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Thai Ex-PM Yingluck Ordered To Pay $305 Million In Damages Over Rice Scheme
Bangkok: A Thai court on Thursday ordered self-exiled former premier Mrs. Yingluck Shinawatra to pay 10 billion baht ($305 million) in damages over a botched rice pledging scheme that saw her sentenced in 2017 to five years in prison for negligence. Mrs. Yingluck, one of four members of the billionaire Shinawatra family to have served as prime minister, has been living overseas to avoid jail for failing to prevent corruption in the rice scheme, which paid farmers up to 50% above market prices and caused massive losses to the state. The programme, a flagship policy of her populist Pheu Thai party, cost the state billions of dollars and led to millions of tons of rice going unsold. Thailand is the world's second-largest rice exporter. Thursday's ruling was on Yingluck's appeal against a previous order to pay 35 billion baht ($1.07 billion) in damages to the finance ministry. "The accused performed duties with gross negligence that caused damage to the state and therefore must pay compensation," the Supreme Administrative Court said, adding the previous order exceeded the legal threshold of her responsibility and was unlawful. Mrs. Yingluck, 57, came to power in 2011 after a landslide election victory and resigned just days before her government was ousted in a coup in 2014. She is the aunt of current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and younger sister of former premier and political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra. Thursday's verdict comes less than two years after her family's Pheu Thai party returned to power after a decade in the political wilderness, coinciding with influential brother Thaksin coming home after 15 years in self-exile to avoid jail. The Shinawatras have consistently denied wrongdoing and have long maintained they have been victims of political vendettas by powerful figures in the conservative establishment and royalist military. Yingluck on Thursday said the order to pay 10 billion baht was excessive. "Even if I repaid it my entire life, it would never be enough," she said on social media. "I will continue to demand and fight for justice." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The Advertiser
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Thai ex-PM Yingluck told to pay $474m over rice scheme
A Thai court on Thursday ordered self-exiled former premier Yingluck Shinawatra to pay 10 billion baht ($A474 million) in damages over a botched rice-pledging scheme that saw her sentenced in 2017 to five years in prison for negligence. Yingluck, one of four members of the billionaire Shinawatra family to have served as prime minister, has been living overseas to avoid jail for failing to prevent corruption in the rice scheme, which paid farmers up to 50 per cent above market prices and caused massive losses to the state. The program, a flagship policy of her populist Pheu Thai party, cost the state billions of dollars and led to millions of tons of rice going unsold. Thailand is the world's second-largest rice exporter. Thursday's ruling was on Yingluck's appeal against a previous order to pay 35 billion baht in damages to the finance ministry. "The accused performed duties with gross negligence that caused damage to the state and therefore must pay compensation," the Supreme Administrative Court said, adding the previous order exceeded the legal threshold of her responsibility and was unlawful. Yingluck, 57, came to power in 2011 after a landslide election victory and resigned just days before her government was ousted in a coup in 2014. She is the aunt of current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and younger sister of former premier and political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra. Thursday's verdict comes less than two years after her family's Pheu Thai party returned to power after a decade in the political wilderness, coinciding with influential brother Thaksin coming home after 15 years in self-exile to avoid jail. The Shinawatras have consistently denied wrongdoing and have long maintained they have been victims of political vendettas by powerful figures in the conservative establishment and royalist military. Yingluck on Thursday said the order to pay 10 billion baht was excessive. "Even if I repaid it my entire life, it would never be enough," she said on social media. "I will continue to demand and fight for justice." A Thai court on Thursday ordered self-exiled former premier Yingluck Shinawatra to pay 10 billion baht ($A474 million) in damages over a botched rice-pledging scheme that saw her sentenced in 2017 to five years in prison for negligence. Yingluck, one of four members of the billionaire Shinawatra family to have served as prime minister, has been living overseas to avoid jail for failing to prevent corruption in the rice scheme, which paid farmers up to 50 per cent above market prices and caused massive losses to the state. The program, a flagship policy of her populist Pheu Thai party, cost the state billions of dollars and led to millions of tons of rice going unsold. Thailand is the world's second-largest rice exporter. Thursday's ruling was on Yingluck's appeal against a previous order to pay 35 billion baht in damages to the finance ministry. "The accused performed duties with gross negligence that caused damage to the state and therefore must pay compensation," the Supreme Administrative Court said, adding the previous order exceeded the legal threshold of her responsibility and was unlawful. Yingluck, 57, came to power in 2011 after a landslide election victory and resigned just days before her government was ousted in a coup in 2014. She is the aunt of current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and younger sister of former premier and political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra. Thursday's verdict comes less than two years after her family's Pheu Thai party returned to power after a decade in the political wilderness, coinciding with influential brother Thaksin coming home after 15 years in self-exile to avoid jail. The Shinawatras have consistently denied wrongdoing and have long maintained they have been victims of political vendettas by powerful figures in the conservative establishment and royalist military. Yingluck on Thursday said the order to pay 10 billion baht was excessive. "Even if I repaid it my entire life, it would never be enough," she said on social media. "I will continue to demand and fight for justice." A Thai court on Thursday ordered self-exiled former premier Yingluck Shinawatra to pay 10 billion baht ($A474 million) in damages over a botched rice-pledging scheme that saw her sentenced in 2017 to five years in prison for negligence. Yingluck, one of four members of the billionaire Shinawatra family to have served as prime minister, has been living overseas to avoid jail for failing to prevent corruption in the rice scheme, which paid farmers up to 50 per cent above market prices and caused massive losses to the state. The program, a flagship policy of her populist Pheu Thai party, cost the state billions of dollars and led to millions of tons of rice going unsold. Thailand is the world's second-largest rice exporter. Thursday's ruling was on Yingluck's appeal against a previous order to pay 35 billion baht in damages to the finance ministry. "The accused performed duties with gross negligence that caused damage to the state and therefore must pay compensation," the Supreme Administrative Court said, adding the previous order exceeded the legal threshold of her responsibility and was unlawful. Yingluck, 57, came to power in 2011 after a landslide election victory and resigned just days before her government was ousted in a coup in 2014. She is the aunt of current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and younger sister of former premier and political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra. Thursday's verdict comes less than two years after her family's Pheu Thai party returned to power after a decade in the political wilderness, coinciding with influential brother Thaksin coming home after 15 years in self-exile to avoid jail. The Shinawatras have consistently denied wrongdoing and have long maintained they have been victims of political vendettas by powerful figures in the conservative establishment and royalist military. Yingluck on Thursday said the order to pay 10 billion baht was excessive. "Even if I repaid it my entire life, it would never be enough," she said on social media. "I will continue to demand and fight for justice." A Thai court on Thursday ordered self-exiled former premier Yingluck Shinawatra to pay 10 billion baht ($A474 million) in damages over a botched rice-pledging scheme that saw her sentenced in 2017 to five years in prison for negligence. Yingluck, one of four members of the billionaire Shinawatra family to have served as prime minister, has been living overseas to avoid jail for failing to prevent corruption in the rice scheme, which paid farmers up to 50 per cent above market prices and caused massive losses to the state. The program, a flagship policy of her populist Pheu Thai party, cost the state billions of dollars and led to millions of tons of rice going unsold. Thailand is the world's second-largest rice exporter. Thursday's ruling was on Yingluck's appeal against a previous order to pay 35 billion baht in damages to the finance ministry. "The accused performed duties with gross negligence that caused damage to the state and therefore must pay compensation," the Supreme Administrative Court said, adding the previous order exceeded the legal threshold of her responsibility and was unlawful. Yingluck, 57, came to power in 2011 after a landslide election victory and resigned just days before her government was ousted in a coup in 2014. She is the aunt of current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and younger sister of former premier and political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra. Thursday's verdict comes less than two years after her family's Pheu Thai party returned to power after a decade in the political wilderness, coinciding with influential brother Thaksin coming home after 15 years in self-exile to avoid jail. The Shinawatras have consistently denied wrongdoing and have long maintained they have been victims of political vendettas by powerful figures in the conservative establishment and royalist military. Yingluck on Thursday said the order to pay 10 billion baht was excessive. "Even if I repaid it my entire life, it would never be enough," she said on social media. "I will continue to demand and fight for justice."
The Star
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Yingluck's lawyers push for retrial in rice pledging case fight
BANGKOK: Yingluck's legal team refuses to give up! They submit new evidence, requesting the court to reopen the rice pledging case, citing over US$305mil (100 billion baht) in rice sales after the Supreme Administrative Court ordered the former PM to pay 10 billion baht compensation. Norawit Lalang, lawyer appointed by former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, spoke after the Supreme Administrative Court amended its ruling, ordering Yingluck to pay US$305mil (10.03 billion baht) in damages related to the government-to-government (G2G) rice sales scheme. Norawit explained that the Supreme Administrative Court's verdict shares some similarities with the lower court's decision. Both rulings reference the Ministry of Finance's Order No. 1351/59, which held Yingluck responsible for losses in the 2012/13 and 2013/14 rice pledging schemes totalling over 178 billion baht. Under that order, Yingluck's liability was set at 20%, approximately 35 billion baht. Both courts agreed that Yingluck was not liable for this amount, as it was based on total losses from both programmes. However, the key difference in the Supreme Administrative Court's ruling is that Yingluck was held liable specifically for corruption during the G2G rice sales stage. Norawit pointed out that the rice sales phase fell under the operational side, managed by the Rice Sales Subcommittee, chaired at the time by the Minister of Commerce. Despite this, the court assigned Yingluck responsibility for over 10 billion baht in damages related to this stage. - Photo: The Nation file Norawit recalled that at the time of the May 22, 2014 coup, there were approximately 18.9 million tons of rice remaining in government warehouses. According to the Ministry of Finance's order, if the government managed to sell this rice at prices higher than the valuation used to close the rice pledging accounts, the proceeds could offset Yingluck's liability. 'Currently, this rice has all been sold under the current government at about 25 baht per kilogramme. The sales revenue is estimated at around 250 billion baht. When offset against the 10 billion baht liability, Yingluck might not have to pay anything at all,' Norawit said. He added that this rice sale constitutes new evidence. 'We have tried to submit this in the case, but since fact-finding had concluded, the court did not accept it. However, it is new evidence, and our legal team will discuss whether to file a retrial request. We will pursue this to the fullest to seek justice for the former Prime Minister,' Norawit said. Norawit also noted that a retrial request must be filed within 90 days under Section 75 of the Administrative Procedure Act. If the court refuses to reopen the case, the matter will be final, but 'we will do our best to fight for justice.' He has not yet reported this development to Yingluck. He acknowledged that between 2015 and 2019, some good-quality rice was downgraded and sold as spoiled rice, fetching only 3-5 baht per kilogramme, much lower than the 18 baht per kilogramme achieved under Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, which generated about 10 billion baht. Overall, more than 200 billion baht worth of rice has been sold. When asked about allegations that the Ministry of Commerce under the current government sold rice to cover Yingluck Shinawatra's debts, Norawit responded,"We must ask who the buyers were. They were private entities. No one would invest money just to cover debts, using ordinary logic." Regarding the total value of assets seized, Norawit said most assets had already been sold, and he could not recall the exact value. He noted that the Supreme Administrative Court annulled the Ministry of Finance's order for amounts exceeding 10 billion baht. On the assets protected as joint property with Yingluck's husband, Norawit explained,"Almost all items acquired after November 1995 are protected. The court ruled these are jointly owned properties." When asked how much Yingluck might recover after debt offsets, Norawit said,"Some seized assets remain, some have been sold. Any excess must be returned, but the exact amount and timeline are unknown. Enforcement procedures must be followed. The Ministry of Finance is the lead agency, and the Department of Legal Execution handles the seizures, under orders from then-Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. We will review details before deciding whether to petition the Ministry or the Department." On whether the court ruling affects Yingluck's potential return to Thailand, Norawit said,"I do not know if it affects her return or when she might come back. I also do not know where she currently resides. This civil case has no bearing on that." When asked if Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, has been informed, Norawit replied,"He probably knows from the news. I have not personally discussed this with him." - The Nation/ANN
The Star
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Yingluck speaks out after court orders over US$305mil compensation
BANGKOK: Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra posted a heartfelt message on her personal Facebook page on Thursday (May 22), marking the 11th anniversary of the 2014 military coup and responding to the Supreme Administrative Court's ruling ordering her to pay more than US$305mil (10 billion baht) in damages related to the controversial rice pledging scheme. Yingluck emphasised her position as a victim of political injustice, stating, "I am being held responsible for a debt I did not create... I was the head of the executive branch, forced to bear liabilities caused by operational officials, in which I had no direct involvement." She noted that the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders ruled in her case that she was only negligent in managing the rice pledging scheme. Yingluck said her government was determined to help impoverished farmers sell their produce at higher prices, ensuring they had enough to live on and could afford to send their children to school. Many farming families benefited from the programme. However, she added, "If policies like this are accused of causing damage, who will dare to propose policies to help people lacking economic opportunities in the future?" She also stated, "I had no intention to cause harm to the project. Each step involved multiple agencies and personnel with hierarchical bureaucratic oversight, and it was not within the executive leader's role to interfere in the details. Yet, I alone am held responsible for the damages. If this is what is called justice, it is very difficult for me to understand or accept." Yingluck said the 10 billion baht debt would take a lifetime to repay and would never be fully paid off. Despite dedicating herself tirelessly and enduring political and various other pressures to keep rice prices high and stable, so that farming families could have better lives and turn their fields into opportunities, she faces the most painful outcome. She also criticised the ongoing lack of accountability for alleged corruption beyond her case, pointing out, "After the coup, there were reports that good rice was sold as spoiled rice. Over 18.9 million tons of rice remaining in warehouses were sold at prices far below market value, with no progress in investigations or responsible parties identified to this day." Reflecting on her long struggle, Yingluck expressed, "For 11 years, I have faced repeated coups, fabricated cases, asset seizures, and being forced to pay debts unrelated to me. If an elected Prime Minister cannot receive true justice, then there is no guarantee of justice for the people who hold sovereignty." Yingluck vowed to continue her fight for justice through lawful means, standing firm despite the hardship imposed by the ruling. - The Nation/ANN
