I'm Not A Dictator, Says Angry Prayut

BANGKOK: -- Warns that 'unfounded antagonism towards the government' will destabilise country

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha asserted yesterday that his government was not dictatorial although he admitted that it "may not be 100 per cent democratic".

He reiterated that he had no plan to set up a pro-military political party that would inherit power from his post-coup administration.

"Did I do anything wrong? Have I done any damage or wasn't the situation already bad when I took over?" Prayut said.

"I may not be 100 per cent democratic. But I want to ask if being 100 per cent democratic did anything good to the country? Find the answer for me," he added, appearing tense.

General Prayut, who led the coup of May 22 while serving as the Army chief, also urged anti-coup activists not to obstruct his government's work on national reform.

"I am ready to listen to any problem. They should tell me. But don't ask for democracy or an election now. I can't give it to you," he said.

The prime minister has been on the defensive following his first visit to the Northeast on Wednesday, when five students staged a protest in front of the stage where he was giving an address at Khon Kaen Provincial Hall.

The students from Khon Kaen University were arrested after making a three-finger salute at the PM. The salute is associated with the anti-coup movement.

They were later released after meeting military authorities and their parents.

"I don't want to punish them [the students] so they were merely reprimanded, released and told not to do it again because it does not benefit anyone," Prayut said.

He praised their courage but added that they should think of the country's future. He also warned that the students' future could be jeopardised if they had a problem with the law.

When asked if a pro-military party would be formed, Prayut said: "You have to ask people who said this. I have never said it and I have never thought about doing it. Don't report about this nonsense."

The premier was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Thailand Energy Awards 2014 presentation ceremony at Government House.

Prayut, who also heads the National Council for Peace and Order, reiterated that there was no plan to lift martial law, in effect since the coup.

In his weekly national address last night, the prime minister warned that "unfounded antagonism towards the government", as well as continued conflicts, would destabilise the country.

"The complete and strong democracy that we are building will not be realised if we continue to quarrel without civility, and things will go back to the way they were," he said in the TV programme "Returning Happiness to People in the Country".

He said that in the current situation, exercising freedom of the press without boundaries would do more harm than good for the country.

"The government and the NCPO have never thought of using force towards the press, but all we are seeking is your cooperation and respect for the law," he said.

Prayut said his government was "just the facilitator" in the ongoing national reform movement.

"We are trying to get everyone involved in the reform process so that the outcome of our efforts can be enjoyed by all of us," he said. "The government is just a facilitator for all stakeholders to come together to address our common problems."

He said the government was acting as a referee or an organiser of the process, and was not a player.

"In sports, athletes must play by the rules while the referees or the judges are the ones enforcing these rules," he said. "On the other hand, the organiser is the one who makes sure that everyone involved in the competition, including the fans, are safe."

PM: I Am To Be Held Responsible If Reforms Fail

 

 

BANGKOK : -- Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced today that he would be the only person who would be held responsible if the attempts at national reform have failed. 

 

He also warned political elements not to stir up troubles while martial law is still in force, saying that all he has wanted is for the public give him moral support and understand him as he has no intention whatsoever to seek personal gains but to solve the country’s problems.

On the question of martial law whether it should be lifted, the prime minister answered back saying that if martial law is lifted and there are troubles making reform impossible “then who will take responsibility on my behalf.”

He stressed that his main responsibility was to make reform possible so that the country could move forward. 

And as far as he is concerned, he said that the Thai people must come first and their safety is paramount regardless of how the international community will think about the martial law.

General Prayuth made clear that it was not his business or the government’s business to negotiate with any political groups and to persuade them to cease their activities. “Why negotiate with them because they, as the people of this country, must obey the law.

The prime minister said that since he has to bear all the burdens and problems originated from previous governments he needed time and an opportunity to address all the problems. 

“Can you ask them (political groups) to stop their activities and give them for Thailand and the government to undertake the reforms,” he told the reporters.

PM: Martial Law To Be Eased Once Situation Returns To Normal

 

 

BANGKOK : -- Martial law will be gradually eased once the situation has returned to normal and the government has started national reforms, said Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha today.

 

He also asked for an opportunity for his government to do its job and to move ahead with reforming the country.

He said that the government and the National Council for Peace and Order would work together in parallel to fulfill the five aspects of their strategy which include security, economic affairs, law and justice procedure, social affairs and special operations.

A joint meeting of the cabinet and the NCPO was held today at the Government House.  The meeting lasted about five hours.

The cabinet today endorsed the appointment of Mr Disathat Hotrakit as the new secretary-general of the Council of State.  The cabinet also appointed 12 resource persons for the committee for the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises.

HMC City Rejects Airport Expansion

 

 

Ho Chi Minh City has rejected plans to expand its airport on practicality grounds and instead wants work on a new airport in neighbouring Dong Nai Province speeded up. 

 

The 1,500-hectare Tan Son Nhat International Airport currently has nearly 590.5 hectares under civilian use and the rest for military activities, but is located in a very densely populated area, which raises questions about the wisdom of expanding it.

Its current capacity is around 20 million passengers per year, meaning the transportation system connecting the airport with the city is frequently overloaded, according to the city people’s committee.

If the airport’s annual capacity is to be raised to 50 million passengers, it will have to expand to the north, where around 640 hectares need to be cleared and 140,000 households moved. Expansion will cost an estimated US$9.15 billion if the land is acquired at official prices, and much higher if based on market rates, according to the city administration.

An expanded airport will surely worsen the noise and air pollution in one of the country’s most densely populated cities.  Urban development and airspace management by the Ministry of Defence will also be impacted, the people’s committee fears.

The city has urged the Ministry of Transport to soon begin work on Long Thanh Airport in Dong Nai instead.

Warning Out For Singaporeans Planning To Support Or Join ISIS

 

 

Singaporeans planning to join or help the Middle East terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) will face the full extent of the law, warned Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Tuesday. 

 

“Any Singaporean who assists, supports, promotes or joins violent organisations like Isil would have demonstrated a dangerous tendency to support the use of violence,” said Mr Teo, referring to the terrorist outfit by its other name – the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

“Such a person poses a real threat to Singapore’s national security, and will be dealt with in accordance with our laws.”

Singapore is a co-sponsor an anti-terrorist resolution approved by the United Nations Security Council. The resolution requires nations to adopt laws criminalising nationals that join extremist groups like Isis.

Mr Teo added that the Government’s approach will be “carefully calibrated” to the specifics of each case.

Where necessary, the Internal Security Act – which grants the Government the discretion to detain people without trial – will be used to pre-empt and neutralise terrorism threats that endanger the security of the country and its citizens.

Missing Thai Helicopter Found With All Occupants Alive

 

 

MYANMAR : -- A Thai helicopter enlisted in the hunt for two Myanmar mountain climbers has been found with all of its occupants surviving, some 10 days after the aircraft went missing in northern Kachin State, according to the foundation organizing search efforts, as reported by The Irrawaddy. 

 

The helicopter carrying three people went missing on Sept 27. Ground control lost contact with the aircraft about 20 minutes after it took off from Putao headed for Tahomdum village, where it was attempting to deliver supplies to a team participating in the search for the mountain climbers on Mount Hkakabo Razi.

On Tuesday, the Htoo Foundation, whose patron Tay Za is one of Myanmar’s biggest tycoons, said the helicopter had been found with all three men on board still alive.

“Today (Tuesday) at 5 p.m., Tay Za met with all three people — the Thai pilot, Myanmar pilot and Shwe Yin Taw Gyi — at Lan Sarr village, and the required medical treatment for them has been arranged,” read a post on the foundation’s Facebook page.

The announcement was accompanied by several photos of the meeting, one in which Tay Za is pictured kissing the cheek of Shwe Yin Taw Gyi, who serves as the magnate’s personal assistance. The statement did not include details on the helicopter team’s ordeal.

Over the weekend, the Htoo Foundation said the search for the two missing climbers would continue, while acknowledging that it was increasingly unlikely that the men — Aung Myint Myat and Wai Yan Min Thu — would be found alive.

Tourist Murder Suspects Confess To Human Rights Commissioner

KOH TAO : -- Human rights commissioner said today (Tuesday) the two Myanmar migrant workers arrested on charges of murdering the two British backpackers on Koh Tao admitted to him that they committed the crime as charged.

 

The commissioner, Mr Prinya Sirisarakan, and his staff visited the two suspects at a prison on Koh Samui where they are being detained pending prosecution.

Commenting on the suspicion by netizens in the social media that the two suspects might be just scapegoats, Mr Prinya  suggested that the police should disclose more details about the case to clear up the air.

He said the two told him that they drank  beer and wine before they attacked the two British tourists and he suspected that they might be drunk at the time they committed the crime.

He went on saying that he would notify the police about their interpreter who was a Rohingya as the two suspects did not trust the interpreter and were afraid that they might not be treated fairly.

Meanwhile, Ms Pornpen Kongkachornkiat, director of Cross Cultural Foundation and a member of the subcommittee of the National Human Rights Commission and a representative of foreign migrant workers’ network called on Mr Paibul Artchavananthakul, Koh Samui public prosecutor, to follow up the case against the two Myanmar suspects, Win and Sorin.

She said that she felt relieved that the case was proceeding in accordance with procedures.