EC to file charge against Thanathorn over alleged violation of media shareholding rules

[toenail]

Definitely Thanathorn is on Prayut’s hit list. He can’t stand someone intelligent and outspoken challenging him. 

[jonclark]

I think the EC should be commended. This will only make FFP more popular and the EC and the junta less popular. It is a brilliant way of alienating the next generation of voters and shows how 'behind the times' the current junta are. The new generation of voters voted for FFP not because of a single person, but because of the ideology and hope that it offered. Their voters are young, educated (when compared to previous generations) media savvy millennial's  who consume content at a voracious pace. Not the dogged eared dinosaurs that form the upper echelons of the traditional Thai social strata. 

 

The EC is thinking that FFP will collapse - well TRT / PPP / PT never did, when the shinawatras were ousted and FFP will be not different. 

 

I am sure the EC will just claim it is following the rule of law and doing its duty, so one can only hope that they are as quick off the line with all the other accusations of irregularities. 

[jonclark]

5 minutes ago, toenail said:

Definitely Thanathorn is on Prayut’s hit list. He can’t stand someone intelligent and outspoken challenging him. 

Thanathorn is Prayut's Kryptonite. 

[ChrisY1]

They were going to toast this guy unfortunately, whatever happened.

Just noticed the BP have removed all articles on Thanathorn.....scared media as always!

[geoffbezoz]

1 minute ago, ChrisY1 said:

They were going to toast this guy unfortunately, whatever happened.

Just noticed the BP have removed all articles on Thanathorn.....scared media as always!

The editor probably didn't fancy a swim in the Mekong !!

[d2b2]

If you can't win, rig the election to your favor, still can't win even after rigging the election, have your appointed henchmen cheat for you to disqualify the winners. There seems to be no threshold too low for the powers that be. Those who support the current "government's" illegal and unethical  misdeeds, because it suits their perception, deserve to be crushed without aid when the Junta turns on them.

[d2b2]

The lack of protest is deafening in it's quietness.

[Dumbastheycome]

I am  wondering if Thanathorn  had put the sale of his shares in process and thereby assumed that  covered the  legality of his political aspirations. But te EC is  pushing the  point of law  on the basis that  until the shares were actually transferred from his  name he technically contravened the  regulations.

Sadly it would seem that the legal argument will most likely  follow the petty course of  nobbling him.

 

[TKDfella]

Nothing new. We here all thought he would be charged no matter what. My only hope is that he thought this would happen and has some kind of backup plan in mind.

[elgenon]

Like I say, Big Joke was getting too much press. Had to go.

 

Thanathorn sounds like a decent guy. Gotta go.

[hansnl]

6 hours ago, BuckBee said:

the best face in politics and this the ballache you get .

One can only hope the hatred of the ec and junta is growing stronger due to these silly stunts .

Or maybe the public will find out that scratching a candidate shows a millionaire, billionaire or an unhealthy connection to a fugitive or two, and certainly all of the above probably are in the political arena for power and money and not for the good of the people.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, Zack61 said:

Luckily for many there is no such law preventing army generals from being elected to the trough. 

exactly. one law for them another law for the rest.

[Millcx]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

EC blow for Thanathorn over media shareholding

By The Nation

 

File photo: Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit

 

Future Forward leader cuts short Europe tour over ‘unexpected incident’

 

THE Election Commission (EC) yesterday unanimously resolved to press a charge against Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit over alleged violation of media shareholding rules.

 

 

Citing investigations by two EC panels, Sawang Boonmee, the EC deputy secretary-general, told a press conference that Thanathorn had allegedly violated the law by owning or holding 675,000 shares in V-Luck Media Company while registering as a candidate for the general election.

 

“Thanathorn’s share certificate number is from 1350001 to 2025000,” said Sawang, referring to the findings of two panels the EC had set up to investigate the case. 

 

Thanathorn was accused of contravening Article 98 (3) of the Constitution and Article 42 (3) of election law, which states that a shareholder in a media company is barred from contesting an election for member of parliament, according to the EC. The action is punishable by disqualification. The case was filed by Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for Protection of the Thai Constitution, on March 25. An EC source said the agency had yet to suspend Thanathorn’s right to contest in elections for one year or give him an “orange” card, as it was just an initial charge. Thanathorn will have seven days to give testimony or submit documents in his defence to the EC, Sawang said, adding his lawyers would also be allowed to witness the trial.

 

After the testimony, the EC will finalise the case as soon as possible in order to finish it before May 9 when it will announce the election results.

 

 

However, Sawang said he could not tell at the moment which Article of the laws Thanathorn had violated.

 

Thanathorn, whose party is tipped to win around 80 MP seats in last month’s election, was on the way back from his tour to Europe. He posted on his Facebook page yesterday that he had been notified to quickly return to Thailand to face an “unexpected” incident.

 

Future Forward secretary-general, Piyabutr Saengkanokkul yesterday questioned the EC’s decision, saying the poll agency needs to wait until Thanathorn is endorsed as an MP before it can question his qualification. 

 

The news that Thanathorn still allegedly owned the shares while he was an MP candidate was first reported by Isra news agency before the election was held. 

 

The news agency reported that Thanathorn and his wife Raweepan owned a total of 900,000 shares, worth about Bt9 million, in V-Luck Media Company. But all of their shares in the media firm were reportedly transferred to Thanathorn’s mother on March 21, or three days before the election. Thanathorn’s lawyer had earlier said that his client had fully complied with the law, as he had transferred all his shares in the media firm on January 8 or one month before registration for election. 

 

Later it was found that on the day of the reported transfer, Thanathorn was in fact campaigning in Buri Ram. His legal team later said Thanathorn had rushed to Bangkok in the afternoon to sign the transfer document. 

 

However, Srisuwan challenged that claim. The activist yesterday filed additional documents with the EC in the case. Srisuwan said the explanation offered by Piyabutr, was not reasonable and he seemed to produce false documents to defend against the allegation. The activist said it was impossible for Thanathorn to be able to return to Bangkok from Buri Ram in such a short time as claimed by Piyabutr.

 

 Meanwhile, Raksagecha Chaechai, secretary-general of the Office of Ombudsman, said the EC had until tomorrow to submit an explanation to the office regarding a petition seeking an annulment of the March 24 election.

 

The office last week resolved to accept the petition filed by the now-defunct Thai Raksa Chart Party’s former MP candidate, Reungkrai Leekijwatana, who asked the office to submit its opinion to the Administrative Court or the Constitutional Court regarding whether last month’s election should be annulled.

 

The petitioner cited confusion and dubious matters occurring after the election for which the EC had failed to find solutions.

 

Raksagecha said if the EC submitted the explanation in time, the office would be able to make a final decision before the May 9 deadline for the EC to announce the election results. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30368236

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-04-24

It will be death camps next for all opposition MP’s ... Election result will then be 100% for junta ... Democracy is dead in Thailand RIP

[Psimbo]

The Dinosaurs really are clutching at straws at the moment. Do they not realise how this is backfiring against them?

[holy cow cm]

Doesn't matter. What is any Thai to do against Military tanks and guns!

[Sydebolle]

Irrespective of what they say and what the (most likely) outcome will be. The seed is in and the more they stir and talk to the media, the better the germination will go forward. 

 

I mean, the following statement (provided, it is true and Sawang said that) says it all: 
"However, Sawang said he could not tell at the moment which Article of the laws Thanathorn had violated." 

[mike787]

14 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

This reminds me of another country's leader who has so far weathered every storm the opposition has thrown at him...his biggest sin was winning an election.

 

Thanathorn’s sins are getting too many popular votes and threatening the status quo...

the last guy in Russia that tried running against Putin got whacked in public.

[Ulic]

Let me get this right. You are a day late transferring control of media company shares and you are disqualified from the election after winning too many seats, yet there are no issues if you lead a military coup against the former government because you gave yourself the magic article 44 wand. 

[Srikcir]

What we have here with the EC is that, in compliance to its constitutional obligation to independently (as a Constitutional Organization) determine a candidate's eligibility to register as a party leader in a national election for election as a MP and PM,

• the EC APPROVED Thanathorn as eligible prior to the Early Election and General Election dates.

The EC has the authority to delay such approval for an unspecified period should it suspect Thanathorn guilty of any crimes until it conducts an investigation of such suspicions.

• The two charges being brought now against Thanathorn are based on evidence that existed prior to even the announcement of the two election dates which had been further delayed by the EC from February 2019 to March 2019.

But only now after the election the EC seeks to disqualify Thanathorn's candidacy.

How can the EC explain what appears to be a critical lapse (as in dereliction?) of its duty to assure that only eligible candidates participate in elections?

By such shortcoming how can the EC avoid being the cause for national electorate conflict and confusion - a political crime often advanced by the junta?

 

A couple possible scenarios:

• The EC admits incompetency and resigns in mass with election results preserved;
• The EC admits it failed the Constitution and lets Thanathorn's candidacy stand with election results preserved (theory of two wrongs don't make a right);
• Both of the above;
• EC invalidate the entire election and redo with Thanathorn banned from the election;
• Pro-military party leaderships signaled to the EC to allow Thanathorn's candidacy as it expected Thanathorn's Freedom Party to gain only a minor number of parliament seats that would not have any impact on pro-military party coalition shares of parliament seats that would be supported in part by Democrat party win of seats - or Prayut face unsettling public protests to disqualify Thanathorn.
• Pro-military party leaderships didn't anticipate that Thanathorn would not only gain a significant number of parliament seats to support PTP in a coalition government but trounced the Democrat party at the polls to render the Democrats with an insignificant number of parliament seats.

In hindsight to election results the EC appears to redefine the election results without electorate intervention that would favor current government (aka NCPO) leadership.

If that's the case, what was the point of the election from an electorate viewpoint?

[GarryP]

20 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

Irrespective of what they say and what the (most likely) outcome will be. The seed is in and the more they stir and talk to the media, the better the germination will go forward. 

 

I mean, the following statement (provided, it is true and Sawang said that) says it all: 
"However, Sawang said he could not tell at the moment which Article of the laws Thanathorn had violated." 

He could not do any worse at showing the committee is clutching at straws.  "We will charge you. We don't know which article of law you have broken, but we will charge you. We know what we are doing." 

[Grusa]

1 hour ago, Dumbastheycome said:

I am  wondering if Thanathorn  had put the sale of his shares in process and thereby assumed that  covered the  legality of his political aspirations. But te EC is  pushing the  point of law  on the basis that  until the shares were actually transferred from his  name he technically contravened the  regulations.

Sadly it would seem that the legal argument will most likely  follow the petty course of  nobbling him.

 

10 years in jail is hardly just "nobbling" him.

[Puchaiyank]

20 minutes ago, mike787 said:

the last guy in Russia that tried running against Putin got whacked in public.

Point well taken!

[Krataiboy]

3 hours ago, ocddave said:

With any hope, the Western Countries will say they have had enough of this circus and refuse to have any further dealings with the Junta. No more cooperation, no more investment, sanctions on any Junta led initiatives, sanctions/blacklisting of all Junta cohorts, and freezing of all money/assets abroad until a true democratic government is elected.

The Chinese will still love them.

[farq]

18 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

What we have here with the EC is that, in compliance to its constitutional obligation to independently (as a Constitutional Organization) determine a candidate's eligibility to register as a party leader in a national election for election as a MP and PM,

• the EC APPROVED Thanathorn as eligible prior to the Early Election and General Election dates.

The EC has the authority to delay such approval for an unspecified period should it suspect Thanathorn guilty of any crimes until it conducts an investigation of such suspicions.

• The two charges being brought now against Thanathorn are based on evidence that existed prior to even the announcement of the two election dates which had been further delayed by the EC from February 2019 to March 2019.

But only now after the election the EC seeks to disqualify Thanathorn's candidacy.

How can the EC explain what appears to be a critical lapse (as in dereliction?) of its duty to assure that only eligible candidates participate in elections?

By such shortcoming how can the EC avoid being the cause for national electorate conflict and confusion - a political crime often advanced by the junta?

 

A couple possible scenarios:

• The EC admits incompetency and resigns in mass with election results preserved;
• The EC admits it failed the Constitution and lets Thanathorn's candidacy stand with election results preserved (theory of two wrongs don't make a right);
• Both of the above;
• EC invalidate the entire election and redo with Thanathorn banned from the election;
• Pro-military party leaderships signaled to the EC to allow Thanathorn's candidacy as it expected Thanathorn's Freedom Party to gain only a minor number of parliament seats that would not have any impact on pro-military party coalition shares of parliament seats that would be supported in part by Democrat party win of seats - or Prayut face unsettling public protests to disqualify Thanathorn.
• Pro-military party leaderships didn't anticipate that Thanathorn would not only gain a significant number of parliament seats to support PTP in a coalition government but trounced the Democrat party at the polls to render the Democrats with an insignificant number of parliament seats.

In hindsight to election results the EC appears to redefine the election results without electorate intervention that would favor current government (aka NCPO) leadership.

If that's the case, what was the point of the election from an electorate viewpoint?

I dips my lid to you! You have hit the proverbial nails on the head with your observations. The junta are out of control and only succeeding in making themselves look bigger fools than we thought!

[joebrown]

I find it amazingly hypocritical that the Junta controlled EC can think of disqualifying Thanathorn for media company share ownership when Prayut and his team have control of the Thai media through Article 44. What about Prayut's weekly Friday night pre-election shows? No other party was ever allowed to be seen on TV.

[Rimmer]

Some off topic and derogatory posts also replies have been removed

[Eric Loh]

14 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

In hindsight to election results the EC appears to redefine the election results without electorate intervention that would favor current government (aka NCPO) leadership.

If that's the case, what was the point of the election from an electorate viewpoint?

The junta miscalculated the election result big time. They seem to have everything nailed down to the T for a massive Palang Phacharat win. They got the constitution and laws stitched up to prevent PTP to win the majority, formed a political party buying cobra incumbent politicians, lavishing populist policies, dissolving threats from Thai Raksa and even have the EC gerrymandered to gain advantages for the junta. They didn't expect an upstart party with no experience and incumbency to win big and trounced the junta allied Dem Party and upset the grand scheme. They must have placed their bets for the Dem to win big in Bangkok and will be sufficient to form the majority with PP in the lower house. After recovering from the FFP election shocker, they will do anything to dissolve the party. FFP is now faced with a list of charges from instigating public disorder in their facebook page and computer crime for sharing the news about the 82,000B coffee. Also the EC is investigating the party for outside influence after the Thai Raksa asked supporters to vote FFP. These charges seem groundless and obvious politically motivated by their supporters and even many neutrals. It will just create a martyr image for Thanathorn and resentment among many Thai citizens. If the junta pressed on with this political attack; something got to give and bets are off at what will happen next. 

[4MyEgo]

Any excuse to try and get rid of this guy, regardless of him owning the shares or not, they allowed a military dictator to run for Prime Ministership, the EC was put in place by the same person, that said, if the guy did get rid of his shares in time and can't get rid of him, then it will be another coup until Prayut get what he wants.

 

The election was just an egotistical thing to do to tame the masses, they obviously didn't expect this new rising star to flurious and get so many seats, either way, Prayut has tweaked the legislation enough to remain in power for as long as it takes, i.e. everything is stacked against anyone wanting to take him down, in the even they did, all they have to do is throw another coup.

 

What were some of those words to the song of Midnight Oil in the power and the passion, "the rich get richer, the poor get the picture".

[GarryP]

9 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Any excuse to try and get rid of this guy, regardless of him owning the shares or not, they allowed a military dictator to run for Prime Ministership, the EC was put in place by the same person, that said, if the guy did get rid of his shares in time and can't get rid of him, then it will be another coup until Prayut get what he wants.

 

The election was just an egotistical thing to do to tame the masses, they obviously didn't expect this new rising star to flurious and get so many seats, either way, Prayut has tweaked the legislation enough to remain in power for as long as it takes, i.e. everything is stacked against anyone wanting to take him down, in the even they did, all they have to do is throw another coup.

 

What were some of those words to the song of Midnight Oil in the power and the passion, "the rich get richer, the poor get the picture".

Personally, I do not think Prayuth staying on as PM is tenable. If he is foolish enough to come back under the guise of a democratic government, it is likely to be short lived and he will be the target of even more ridicule than he is now.  A reincarnation of Suchinda Krapayoon who lasted all of 47 days, perhaps 

[gamini]

10 hours ago, ocddave said:

This country is doomed, there is absolutely nothing positive on the horizon, its like watching a dreary dark movie play out in real life. Hopefully someone is keeping notes on how not to run a country, this a perfect example of a failed society.

This could also be a good description of what's going on in the UK Parliament.