The last time most Thais saw politician Suthep Thaugsuban was in 2015 when he entered the Buddhist monkhood and announced his retirement after spearheading protests that culminated in a military coup against a government he detested. The military, after taking power, clamped a tight lid on politics, and the rivalry between the military-royalist establishment and new upstart political forces that had roiled the country for a decade was stifled. But now a long-promised general election is on the horizon - due sometime between February and May - and old animosities are stirring and veteran political brawler Suthep, 68, is back. Suthep, a one-time deputy prime minister in a pro-establishment government, has said he will contest the election under the banner of a new party he set up to sustain the work of the military government and to campaign for its leader, Prayuth Chan-ocha, to be prime minister of a civilian administration. The return of Suthep, who has a record of mobilising crowds on … [Read more...] about Thailand’s political tough-guy back in the fray to support military as vote nears
Thailand politics
Thailand: Political parties worry over membership registration delay
Illustrative image (Source: nationmultimedia.com) Bangkok (VNA) – Political parties in Thailand on April 17 expressed concerns over the membership verification process for their members, which could not be completed by the end of this month, as required, due to too many public holidays. The existing parties are racing against time to adhere to Order No 53/2017 of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which requires party memberships to be renewed, including the submission of documents and the payment of membership fees, by April 30. After the Songkran new year holidays, there will be less than 10 working days left in April. Anyone failing to register in time will lose their memberships and will have to re-register as new members. However, as a result of the NCPO ban on political movements which has yet to be lifted, parties have been unable to carry out any political activities, including the acquisition of new members. According to acting secretary-general … [Read more...] about Thailand: Political parties worry over membership registration delay
Bản in : Vietnam, Thailand hold fourth political consultation
Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh and Thailand’s acting Minister and Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow co-chaired the fourth annual Vietnam-Thailand political consultation in Bangkok on July 17. At the meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as joint cabinet meetings, the Inter-Governmental Committee on Trade or joint working group on politics and security. They reached consensus on coordination to build plans for activities celebrating the 40 th anniversary of Vietnam – Thailand diplomatic ties in 2016. As regards to national defence – security, Vietnam and Thailand will increase the exchange of visits to share intelligence information and anti-crime experience, hold more joint patrols and consider the establishment of a deputy-ministerial defence dialogue mechanism. On economics, the two countries will make it easier for their business communities to establish trade and investment ties … [Read more...] about Bản in : Vietnam, Thailand hold fourth political consultation
Thailand: Political instability escalates
(VOVworld)- More than 100 thousand protesters gathered at the center of Bangkok city on Sunday to demand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's resignation. Meanwhile, about 30 thousand people from the Red Shirt movement gathered at a football stadium on the outskirts of Bangkok to show their support for Yingluck's government. Both groups announced to overnight protests ratcheting up the tension. In recent weeks, Bangkok has faced a wave of angry protests over a controversial amnesty bill that would pardon parties and individuals indicted after the 2004 conflict. According to the opposition forces, the main aim of the bill is to absolve former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from charges of killing unarmed protesters. The Thai Parliament on November 11 defeated this bill, but protesters still demanded that the current government, which they say is backed by Thaksin, resign. … [Read more...] about Thailand: Political instability escalates
Vietnam – Thailand political and security co-operation promoted
The 2nd meeting of the Vietnam-Thailand Joint Working Group for Political and Security Co-operation was held in Hanoi from Sept. 7-8. During the meeting, the two sides expressed their pleasure at the fine development of friendly relations and multifaceted co-operation between the two countries in the recent past. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Cong Phung, and the Thai delegation was led by General Winai Phattiyakul, General Secretary of the National Security Council of Thailand. The two chief delegates praised the efforts of the Vietnam-Thailand Joint Working group in implementing the Joint Declaration on Vietnam-Thailand Framework Co-operation in the first decade of the 21st century and agreements reached at the two countries' first inter-parliamentary meeting. The two sides discussed regional and international issues of common concern, including challenges to the two countries' security such as terrorism, trans-national crime, epidemics, natural … [Read more...] about Vietnam – Thailand political and security co-operation promoted