Protests
Protesters target the Crown Property Bureau tomorrow, taking direct aim at the country’s Monarchy
Tomorrow the protest road show moves to the Crown Property Bureau, taking aim directly at the the management of the Thai monarch’s affairs. Protesters, who first brought up the issue of the role of the Thai Monarchy in July this year, say they have “a big surprise” in store. This will be the first time when the entire focus of the protest will be Thailand’s Head of State, previously considered a taboo topic in Thai society and the media.
The Crown Property Bureau is the quasi-government agency responsible for managing the property of the Monarchy of Thailand. The bureau is legally defined as a juristic person and not a government agency. It has no tax obligations – Wikipedia
In speeches during last week’s protests, speakers at the rally said… “we demand the return of taxpayers’ money”.
Protest leader Arnon Nampa posted on his Facebook page… “#Nov25ProtestForReturnOfNationalAssets”.
The Free Youth group posted on their Facebook page… “See you at the Crown Property Bureau on November 25! There will be no compromise.”
But Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha questioned the protester’s plans…
“Why they want to get close to the Crown Property Bureau? I think you know their purpose, so there’s no use asking me.”
The Metropolitan Police are warning that the Crown Property Bureau is “royal ground” and considered off-limits for protests “according to the Public Assembly Act”. The law prohibits public assembly within a 150 metre radius of royal buildings.
Tomorrow’s protest also comes less than a week after the PM vowed to enforce “all laws” against the protesters, including the controversial lèse majesté laws. Back in June the PM said that he had been asked by His Majesty to limit the application of Thailand’s lèse majesté laws.
Back in July a 10 point manifesto was read out in a large public forum by protesters for the first time. The calling for the PM to resign, amendments to the Constitution, and dissolution of the government along with a new election, were considered a ‘staple’ for anti-government protesters. But it was the final demands, for tighter controls over the revered Thai Monarchy and reforms to the role of the country’s Head of State, that attracted attention, shocking the ‘establishment’.
The manifesto called for the annulment of the 2018 Royal Assets Structuring Act passed by the NCPO, the military Junta who overthrew the elected Yingluck Shinawatra government. The act combines His Majesty the King’s personal assets and the crown’s wealth managed by the Crown Property Bureau.
On November 18, shortly after the protesters announced their plan for Wednesday, former Army chief and ardent royalist, General Apirat Kongsompong, was appointed Crown Property Bureau deputy director. He was directly appointed by HM the King. He retired from the Army at the end of September.
The Crown Property Bureau was established under the Royal Assets Structuring Act of 1936 and became a legal entity in 1948. It replaced the Royal Treasury that existed up until the 1932 Siamese Revolution, which brought an end to absolute monarchy.
In the early 1900s, the Royal Treasury owned as much as one-fifth of the land in Bangkok, including the key business districts of Si Phraya, Bang Rak and Sampheng, according to a 2006 research paper published by the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University’s School of Economics.
It also set up Siam Commercial Bank and Siam Cement, which have grown to become two of Thailand’s largest companies.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
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The Bangkok Criminal Court sentenced a former public official to more than 4 decades in prison for violating the country’s strict lèse majesté law on insulting or defaming the Thai Monarchy.
The woman, a former Revenue Department official known as Anchan, was found guilty on 29 counts of violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lèse majesté law, as well as the Computer Crime Act. She was sentenced to 43 years and 6 months in prison.
Anchan had posted audio clips on Facebook and YouTube of a man making comments considered critical of the Thai Monarchy. The man has been arrested, but officials haven’t released any other details.
The ruling comes during an ongoing pro-democracy movement raising subjects that are considered taboo in Thai society. In recent months, dozens of protesters have been charged with violating the lèse majesté law. A senior researcher from the Human Rights Watch as the recent sentence sends a “spine-chilling” message.
“Today’s court verdict is shocking and sends a spine-chilling signal that not only criticisms of the monarchy won’t be tolerated, but they will also be severely punished.”
Section 112 of the Criminal Code:
Those who defame, insult or threaten the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent shall be punished by a jail term of between three to 15 years.
SOURCES: Thai Enquirer | Bangkok Biz News| Independent
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Immigration police arrested a 40 year old Nigerian man for allegedly overstaying his visa by 2,683 days. The man entered Thailand in April 2014 on a 60 day tourist visa. He was arrested in in Ratchathewi district of Bangkok.
Illegal immigration is considered as a major factor of the second wave of Covid-19 after the outbreak Samut Sakhon seafood market affecting a large migrant population.
Thai Visa says immigration officers were “targeting Africans to check on their visa status as part of measures associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The penalties for overstaying in Thailand are as follows…
When surrendering at airport immigration when leaving Thailand…
- Overstay less than 90 Days = 500 Thai baht/day overstay fine (maximum 20,000 Thai baht)
- Overstay more than 90 Days = 1 year ban from Thailand and 20,000 Thai baht overstay fine
- Overstay more than 1 Year = 3 years ban from Thailand and 20,000 Thai baht overstay fine
- Overstay more than 3 Years = 5 years ban from Thailand and 20,000 baht overstay fine
- Overstay more than 5 Years = 10 years ban from Thailand and 20,000 baht overstay fine
When caught while overstaying…
- Overstay of 1 day to 1 Year = 5 years ban from Thailand and 500 to 20,000 Thai baht overstay fine.
- Overstay more than 1 Year = 10 years ban from Thailand and 20,000 Thai baht overstay fine.
SOURCES: True Crime Thailand | Thai Embassy| Thai Visa
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Thailand
BTS Skytrain’s Green Line maximum fare to rise, Rail Transport Department disagrees with the move
After the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration agreed to raise the maximum fare on the BTS Skytrain’s Green Line from 59 baht to 158 baht, the Rail Transport Department is calling on city officials to suspend the maximum fare ceiling, saying it would put an unfair burden on passengers.
Bangkok Governor Aswin announced earlier that the maximum fare of 158 baht is to be imposed on February 16, but a discount to 104 baht is offered during the Covid-19 outbreak. The City Hall needs to increase the fare rate because it can’t pay the debt to Bangkok Mass Transit System.
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob says the BMA should halt its policy on the new BTS maximum fare and wait for other authorities to find proper solutions.
The Chairman of a House committee on transport, Sophon Sarum, a former transport minister, dismisses the BMA’s claim of its financial inability to repay the Green Line’s loans while suggesting the BMA to manage the Green Line’s finances by raising funds from banks and other financial institutions.
The Rail Department and BMA will meet to discuss the maximum fare ceiling this week.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post | Coconuts Bangkok
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Toby Andrews
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 2:45 pm
This lese majesti is just another law the dictators’ can utilise to supress objections to their own unjust powers.
The king has stated he does not want the lese majesti laws enforced, but the government will ignore the will of the king, which reveals how they are using this law for the government’s own purposes.
Dreamon
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 4:22 pm
The violent, corrupted, fascist monarch must step back, this is the XXI century.
Gun
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 11:17 pm
Evolution