ChannelNewsAsia: Asia Pacific News

Thai PM accused of failing to protect Monarchy

Posted: 25 June 2008 1426 hrs



Photos 1 of 1: Thai PM Samak Sundaravej (file picture)

BANGKOK - Thailand's opposition questioned premier Samak Sundaravej's loyalty to the revered monarchy on Wednesday, a serious charge that lit new sparks in a no-confidence debate on his government.

Samak took power after December elections that ended more than a year of rule by royalist generals who toppled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.

The military had accused Thaksin of widespread corruption and of disrespecting King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is revered with an almost religious devotion.

Thaksin tapped Samak to rally his supporters in elections in part because of his family's long-standing ties to the palace and Samak's own history of supporting the monarchy.

But a junior minister in his four-month-old government was forced to resign in May, after giving a speech last year that questioned the role of monarchy in Thailand's democracy.


Any discussion of the monarchy's role in Thailand's political life can be prosecuted under a strict lese majeste law, which allows sentences of up to 15 years in prison.

"The monarchy has been insulted as never before without any attempt from government to protect the institution," said Nipit Intarasombut, an MP from the opposition Democrat Party, referring to the speech.

Samak responded by noting that his family has served in the palace for generations, and that he has several royal decorations.

"Don't question me on my royalty," Samak said.

The premier said he had told police to investigate the speech made by Jakrapob Penkair, who implied that the palace had a role in the coup against Thaksin.

"Jakrapob quit because police found that the allegation was substantial," Samak said.

The censure debate, which lasted until midnight on Tuesday, is scheduled to wrap up later Wednesday. A no-confidence vote is scheduled for Thursday, but could be postponed if the debate runs long.

Samak has vowed to step down if he loses the vote, but that appeared unlikely as his six-party coalition controls about two-thirds of the 480 seats.

Outside parliament, the prime minister still faces street protests by the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has camped outside Samak's offices since Friday.

The PAD led protests against Thaksin in the months before the coup, and its latest demonstrations have raised fears of a new takeover, which has sent investors fleeing the Thai stock market.

The group's rallies exert a strong influence because its leadership is seen as a reflection of the traditional power centres in the palace and the military.

Thaksin had antagonised Bangkok's elite with policies such as free health care that endeared him to the populous rural heartland.

Samak had campaigned openly as a proxy for Thaksin, but on Tuesday he tried to distance himself from the billionaire, who is still loathed by the Bangkok elite. - AFP/ir

samak?

Is he capable of doing anything?

I'd suspect that it maybe the opposition having a go at him, but not in a very decent way. Probably best if you and I leave it up to people who know more about it to answer your questions and mine.

it is strange that the oppostion expecting samak to do anything good to thailand.

his only job is to get thaksin far away from jail as much as possible.

this vote of confident thing should be between Thaksin and Samak about why it is taking so long to drop charges against him.

This thread is here to discuss the accusation by Nipit Intarasombut.

uhh~

wtf?

You aren't much of a reader so it seems. Probably best if you go back to the chat forum.

It's not really an accusation. Khun Nipit merely stated what was obvious to the public. The video record of Jakrapob insulting the king can be found prior to the election. The question is why would samak even bother to pick this man in the first place? But we all knew who really picks the cabinet. All that samak can do now is being a good punch bag, and take it.

I'd have to be more familiar with Jakrapob to know what to think, to be honest. Would you say that Samak himself has been simply negligent in this regard or something less?

Seems like a strong accusation at a time like this, especially when it was an indirect negligence, but I need to read up a bit more on the history before taking a side.

I think you already knew my answer.

Anyway, taking side happens when there is a dispute that is arise from belief. We aren't talking about belief here, are we?

I guess it was rather a strong allegation, but it's probably a good time to catch up on the latest. Not much point in taking sides as long as les majeste isn't the issue.


The Straits Times: Latest News > S-E Asia

June 27, 2008

Thai PM wins no-confidence vote



'Therefore Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej can continue his premiership.' -- PHOTO: AP

BANGKOK - THAI Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and seven Cabinet colleagues won a vote of no-confidence in Parliament on Friday.

Mr Samak, who took over from a military-run administration four months ago, gained a simple majority of MPs in an electronic ballot.

'There are 442 MPs attending today's meeting. One hundred and sixty-two voted against Samak and 280 voted to support Prime Minister Samak,' House Speaker Chai Chidchob told Parliament. 'Therefore Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej can continue his premiership.'

Seven Cabinet ministers comfortably won separate votes of no-confidence against them.

'The censure debate is now complete and all Cabinet members retain their posts,' Mr Chai said.

The votes follow three days of debate in which Samak and his Cabinet colleagues were grilled by opposition MPs accusing them of mismanaging government.

Foremost among the accusations levied was that Mr Samak had acted on behalf of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by royalist generals in 2006 and charged with widespread corruption.

The government was also accused of failing to handle soaring food prices, not defending the revered monarchy, and handing control of a disputed heritage site to Cambodia.

Mr Samak was widely expected to survive the vote as his six-party ruling coalition controls about two-thirds of the chamber. -- AFP

That's what happens when people take side base on given money.

Do you think that someone was paid to accuse Samak of that allegation, or do you mean that taking a majority side improves the chances of a no-confidence vote going smoothly?

I guess my answer would be the latter instant.

Hey i'm gonna have to check out my patients at walk-in clinic now, but I'll be back to show you the video clip of that jakrapob character that got himself charged for insulting the royal family shortly. maybe after 20.00 Thailand time. I hope you could understand Thai. it's all over youtube, if you wanna check it ahead.

Thanks, I see which one you mean and I'll check out that statement tomorrow morning, although an html/ text version would be preferable please. Just the speech in question I guess.

BANGKOK POST: BREAKING NEWS

Jakrapob testifies on lese majeste charge

(BangkokPost.com) - Former prime minister's office minister Jakrapob Penkair met police investigators on Wednesday to testify on alleged lese majeste charge.

Mr Jakrapob brought evidence to police to fight the case.

Again, he vowed to fight the case till the end to prove that he is innocent.

Mr Jakrapob was accused of challenging the high institution in a speech he gave last year at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand.

Its sad but it true that in some what people here these days is not touch with the monarch as much as before.I not quite sure on how extend the younger generation care on things that is really non material. Thesedays people measure things by number ,like more money more power. See from those who work opposite the dusit zoo. They said they respect HM ,but their act is on the other way around. To be a good person to get respect is not apart of the game. But to be a bad person with money you can gain respect any way.It measure by money and power.

Are you surprised by such behavior? I am not. The way I see it is that, Thailand is being held together by a common thread of the respect and love for ROYAL family. However, that common thread is thinning out. The act of Gen. Phiboun and his Junta that took place about 70 years ago is starting to tear the fabric of Siamese kingdom apart. People behaved in accordance to what they are brought up with. The value that the present day Thai society,contained within it the seed of its own destruction. The moment Thailand become a republic, the Kingdom will tear itself apart.
The money, money at all cost and living beyond your means and wanting to be as rich like the movie stars have turned people mentally deranged.

Oh Khun Pee ,Pood Kern Pai rue Plao? I know in my heart that the power change hand all over the time. I think in 70th and 80th people do has sense of community union more than these days because of the war. But now we enjoy so long long peace.Its normal that we has such a long run peace and without the problem people still not stick together.

I think people in Thailand now just stick together for economic reason only its kind of sad. May be we need to has some things heat to brought people tide together again. I just disappoint about people tend to stick together because money only. Money can buy people but not their heart. We are spiritually poor.

If some of you anti Thaksin people still think that it's more beneficial to the economy of Thailand to have another coup then by all means start another one. Isnt it the only way that you can have your party in power?

uhm...it seems you are not in touch with the current news. Anti-thaksin doesn't want anymore coup. It's Thaksin that wants it so badly since his puppet can't change the constitution via the congress. The only way he will be free of criminal charges is to have another coup and change the law himself.

It would be wise, don't you think?, if you should try to read some materials before commenting on any subject.

I think it would take 10 or 15 years to make those old style Politician extinct since Esarn start to has grow in number of more middle class people. Many of the Esarn female married farang and their life getting better. Their kid go to the international school.Then within the next 10 years there would be more educate people plus middle class people. things will change lots I believe.

However I the politician also figure out on this things too ,then I think now they would try to made money from politic as much as they can before the power change hand.

nah,

high income upper-middle class ppl are less like to vote.

we feeling very comfortable with our life styles.

don't have to wait another 10-15 years..

in 10 months thailand will break into pieces...

Thanksin Shinawatra and Samak are the best prime ministers that thailand ever had. Be happy.

I hate all animals in this Cabinet.

Chalerm doesn't deserve to be Ph.D. His Ph.D acquisition is cryptic, without any class taken, without English test.......
Kwanchai Praipana is animal from hell.

I believe so.