 June 2014 : Military Attachés Witnessed Arms Seized
Military attachés witnessed arms seized On 23 July, NCPO invited representatives from all embassies in Bangkok to inform on the necessity of the coup. Later on 25 July, military attachés were also invited and 15 out of 22 deputies represented their countries. Huge number of war weapons, ammunition and armaments seized within a month after the coup were also presented to them. Also on 23 July, the European Union Foreign Minister released its condemnation against the coup d’état in Thailand and announced a sanction measure supported by 28 EU’s foreign ministries. All officially visits would be halted and agreements of partnerships between EUs and Thailand would be revoked. The EU reiterated Thailand should return to a constitutional democracy and hold an election countrywide. The military junta must adhere to human rights and liberties. Unless these procedures undertaken, the EU might reconsider its relationship with Thailand and might add more sanction measures. NCPO achievement within 1 month On 25 July, one month after the military coup, the National Council for Peace and Order ( NCPO) televisly announced some achievement in 2 main dimensions; economic and social. Economic: 1) Payment of all farmers’ debt. 2) Approval of the suspended 2014 expenditure budget. 3) Formulation of the 2015 fiscal budget. 4) Re-appointment of Board of Investment committee members. 5) Approval of the suspended BOI programs. 6) Starting of reformation of state enterprises and energy policy. Social: 1) Re-organize public transport particularly on passenger vans, taxi motorcycles, taxis etc. 2) Suppressing and solving of usury loans, gangsters and drug sellers. The NCPO also re-investigated into state projects of more than 1 Billion Baht investment cost. A total of 28 projects, totaled more than 40 Billion Baht, have been reconsidered on their cost effectiveness and loopholes to corruption and if any, reports were sent to be further studied by the responsible agency National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). Among them, the tablet PCs for student project has been revoked. Military and police officers have been constantly deployed to search for arms and they succeddingly seized war weapons, ammunition and communication devices in many provinces such as Khon Kaen, Trad, Petchaboon, Cholburi and Nontburi. On 13 July, the Martial Law was lifted countrywide and in regards to the legislative functions, NPCO has appointed a legal advisory panel to reorganize all suspending laws and regulations in accordance to their advancement. They are to be proceeded as follow:
Political party subsidiary retrieved On 3 July, the Election Commission retrieved political party subsidiary on reason all political parties are terminated due to the revocation of the Constitution and the Political Party Act. However, if the money was actually spent, political parties could provide their accounting as evidence. The EC also cautious the political parties on the prohibition of political meeting of more than 5 people in compliance to the Martial Law. 7 Economic plans resumed On 1 July, NPCO economic chief Air Chief Marshal Prachin Chantong held a meeting with executive members of the Finance Ministry and resolved to retain 4 missions; to withhold financial disciplinary, to explore alternative energy, to continue infrastructure development policy and to commit on the AEC policy. 7 urgent economic development schemes were agreed and would be sent to the NCPO chief General Prayut Chan-ocha for endorsement. They were:
The Finance Ministry and relevant agencies were assigned to re-examine the tax system. Though there is no clear cut policy on energy reform, retail prices of both LPG and diesel would be retained at the effective prices on 31 May 2014. In the meantime, the Energy Ministry would inform all dealers on this determination until new resolutions reached. Baht 92 billion farmers’ debt paid On 17 July, the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperative has paid its last debt, totaled Baht 92 billion, to all 800,000 farmers. The amount was an owing from the 2013/2014 Rice Pledge Program. Baht 17 billion water management projects resumed On 28 July, in regards to a vacancy of the water management board, NPCO deputy economic chief Gen. Chatchai Sarigalya held a meeting with responsible agencies and resolved that:
Signs of economic recovery The Bank of Thailand disclosed that economy in May 2014 is recovering due to many positive signs. Industrial sector and domestic expenditures were regaining. Household consumptions rose constantly even if in many non-perishable goods. Private investment grew at 0.6% rate, against a minus 0.2% in the previous month. Thai economy is stable The Moody’s Investor Services ranked Thai government bonds Baa1 and confirmed its accountability reasoned the coup did not affect the economy. Moody’s report coincidentally similar with the Chamber of Commerce’s poll result done in May. The poll revealed following the coup, in May, the consumer’s confidentiality index rose to 70.7, against 67.8 in April. The increase, firstly happened in 14 months and also the highest in a quarter since February 2014, showed that consumers are confident in economic and political stability. A devalue of Baht, an inflow of cash from the farmers’ debt payment and a decrease of petro retail prices were positive factors to consumers index. A man jailed from G2G rice export failed On 24 July, the Criminal Court sentenced Apichart Chanskulporn, alias “Sia Piang”, to a total of 6 years jail-term and ordered him and his company President Agri Co. Ltd. to return more than 20,000 tons of rice or a compensation of Baht 229 million to the Commerce Ministry Department of Foreign Trade (DFT). In 2007, when Thai Rak Thai government agreed to sell 20,000 tons of 5% white rice, at Baht 20 billion, to Iran on the G2G basis, Apichart was commissioned to take 16,400 tons of 10% white rice owned by the state to redevelop into 4,742 tons of 5% rice. He took the rice from the warehouse but failed, for 2 times, to return the rice. The contract was revoked and the government lost both down payment and fined. Apichart was taken to the Court in 2008, demanded for a compensation of the loss After the Court’s ruling, Apichart got a Baht 2 million bail to defend himself in the Appeal Court. The President Agri Co. was founded in 1992 with Baht 2 million registrations. The company rose to the top rice exporter in 2004 when awarded with the 1.68 million tons rice export contract. Subsequently in the same year, it was noticed that the company’s actual export amount was 200 to 300 billion tons less than registered with the Excise Department. While it was speculated that some amount was re-sold at higher prices in domestic market, the company went into financial trouble in 2007 and later was filed bankrupt in 2008-2009 by the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank. Apichart was uncovered again in Yingluck’s government when the rice pledging program was debated in the Parliament as the man closely associated with Thaksin Shinawatra. The opposition Democrat presented some photos taken during their trips to China. NACC to extend rice pledge investigation On 28 July, the National Anti-Corruption Commission disclosed it would extend a timeframe of rice pledging investigation on reason there are more than 100 companies involved and their asset and accounting must be thoroughly checked. The process might be finished in a few months and the NACC anticipate to conclude the case around August-September. “Seri Thai” set up to counter NPCO On 24 July, former Phue Thai party leader Jarupong Ruansuwan released the first message via YouTube VDO clip and FaceBook. His stance was to opposing the coup and NPCO. An anti-NCPO organization “Seri Thai” was set up with 6 objectives; to counter dictatorship, to promote democracy, to respect humanity, to promote free-economy and justice, to reform Thai culture to suit democracy and to develop people’s quality to the international level. The VDO also has English version read by Jakrapop Penkair. Though the VDO did not say where it was taken, Charupong fled the country after being ordered to present himself to NCPO. He also got a warrant of less Majesty from his public speech delivered on the Red Shirt assembling. Jakrapop was also accused of similar charge and is now in exile. Thailand downgraded from human trafficking On 20 July, the US Foreign Affairs Ministry, quoting the Trafficking in Persons 2014 report, re-enlisted Thailand, Malaysia and Venezuela at the lowest of the country list due to their failure to solve the problem. The report said tens of thousands people smuggled into those countries ended as labor-slaves, slaves in sex business and domestic labors. The report said though Thailand has attempted to use legal procedure to solve these problems, it was insufficient due to the problems were huge and caused from corruption. The report could be used as cause of economic sanctions against the coup but it was actually done during Yingluck administration. From : http://www.fpps.or.th |